Penny's Aunt
08-24-2000, 10:10 PM
>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 a while 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."
>
>
>Author Unknown
>
>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 a while 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."
>
>
>Author Unknown
>