Daughter’s texts to her late granddad prompt people to share their own stories

It started when broadcaster James O’Brien shared this screenshot of the texts his daughter has been sending his dad, who died 5 years ago.

My youngest has had my old phone for a couple of years. Just for games, which I download for her before disconnecting the internet. Still has my old contacts though & it turns out she’s been messaging my dad, who died 5 years ago. I may have something in my eye. pic.twitter.com/RZ5ZTgGbnk

— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) February 17, 2018

It struck quite a chord, shared by 27,000 people on Twitter and liked more than 140,000.

My little girl’s messages to her late granddad are by far the loveliest thing I’ve ever shared on Twitter, or pretty much anywhere else. The replies took on a beautiful life of their own.
But if you’ve followed me expecting more of the same, I’m sorry.
It’s back to Brexit now.

— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) February 19, 2018

Here’s how people reacted, sharing similar stories of the way we cope with love and loss.

1.

That’s lovely. When my mum died about 5 years ago my 4 year old made me a phone out of Lego so that I could still call her.

— Courage, mon brave (@CoffeeandCave) February 17, 2018

2.

I’m sure that wherever he is, he is seeing those messages and having a big beaming smile.

Sometimes when life is getting me down, I have a little talk with my grandmother who died 17 years ago.

I don’t know if she is there or can hear me. But it cannot hurt to hope so.

— Thomas Evans (@ThomasEvansGB) February 17, 2018

3.

Just lost my Mum.
For several days I’ve wanted to text her, tell her things.
Your girl is adorable. xx

— helen ayres (@Raphaelite_Girl) February 17, 2018

4.

I’m sorry for your loss.
You should still talk to her if you want/need to x
She wouldn’t want you to feel alone.
I still talk to quite a few people who are gone.
I know they only live in my head/heart but it’s still a comfort.
As long as you remember them they’ll remain with you

— Local. No tail. (@localnotail) February 17, 2018

5.

It’s funny even though I’ve moved several times, if the phone rings at around 6pm, the first thing that pops into my head is it’s dad, lost him many years ago, yet I still think he’s ringing me.

— Gracie Stable-Genius #PCPEU (@GracieSamuels) February 18, 2018

6.

That’s what happens when kids are brought up with love. My grandson asked me to buy a helium ballon, he tied the string to a tea bag and let it go to heaven so grandma could have a brew!

— Kevin Dove (@kdoveuk) February 17, 2018

7.

Wow!My young sister perished in Tsunami,Ko Phi Phi Thailand. I used to ring her phone just to hear her voice on answer machine

— JOLLY BHOY (@fultybhoy4) February 17, 2018

8.

I think this is beautiful. My daughter died in 2009, she was 25, and I messaged her every day for 2 whole years. The messages turned from despair to chats and family news. Sometimes I charge her phone up and ring it just to hear her voice. Not often but once in a while.

— alison rundle (@alisonrundle1) February 17, 2018

9.

My brother died in a car crash and I used to do the same until we had to cut his phone off. Kept his last messages for ages after he died.

— MagsCourts (@magsnoodle) February 17, 2018