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Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray,
damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent
arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a
day like this before. But the animals who had 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 wasn't long before
an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and 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 too often. He
approached slowly, 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, as he approached The Bridge, his way was
barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that
he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their
people could pass over 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 weren't 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 waiting.
One of the newest
arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed
and asked one of the animals that had been there for awhile to explain
it to him. "You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in
to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur
graying and his eyes clouding. 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, the clouds suddenly
parted and the gloom lifted. 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 young and healthy again,
just as they were in the prime of life. "Watch, and see" said the
second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to
the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head,
the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The
newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The
Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.
"What happened?"
"That was a rescuer.
The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes
because of his work. They will cross 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 those poor animals that they couldn't place
on earth, across The Rainbow Bridge. "
"I think I like
rescuers", said the first animal.
"So does GOD", was the
reply.
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