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Rescue
at the Rainbow Bridge
Unlike
most of the sun filled days at the Rainbow Bridge, this particular
day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as
any day could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had
no idea what to think as they had never ever experienced a
day like this before. But the animals who been waiting for
their beloved people, knew exactly what was going on and started
to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.
It
was not long before an elderly animal came into view, his
head hung low, so very low, and his tail dragging. The other
animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what
his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far,
far, too often. He approached slowly, very slowly, and was
obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury
or illness.
Unlike
all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal
had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous
again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the
other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here
and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be.
But, alas, it was not to be. As he approached The Bridge,
his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who sadly
apologized to him, and then told him that he would not be
able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people
could pass over to the Rainbow Bridge.
With
no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards
the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals
like himself, also elderly and infirm. They were not playing,
but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring
out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took
his place among them, watching the pathway and waited.
One
of the newest arrivals at The Bridge did not understand what
he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had
been there for a while to explain it to him.
"You
see, that poor animal over there, with the others, they are
rescues. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now,
an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding.
Sadly, he never made it out of rescue and passed on with only
the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly
existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he
has no one to escort him across The Bridge."
The
first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked,
"So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive
his answer, suddenly, the clouds parted swiftly, and the gloom
lifted with a mighty wind. Approaching The Bridge could be
seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole
group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were
all once again, young and healthy, just as they were in the
prime of their life.
"Watch,
and see," said the second animal. A second group of animals
from those also waiting came to the pathway and bowed their
heads ever so low as the person neared closer. As each bowed
head, the person offered a pat on their head or scratch behind
the ears.
One
by one, the newly restored animals fell into line and followed
him towards The Bridge. And then, one by one, they all crossed
The Bridge together.
"What
just happened?" asked the first animal.
"That
was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing to the rescuer in
respect were those who found new homes because of all their
work. They will all cross over to The Bridge, when their new
families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never
found homes. When a rescuer arrives they are allowed to perform
one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those
poor animals that they could not place on earth across The
Rainbow Bridge.
"I
think I like rescuer's," said the first animal, "So
does GOD, "was the reply from the second animal, "so
does God."
Author
Unknown
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