Rescue At Rainbow Bridge

[Warph]

Unlike most days at the '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 awhile, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far to 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 here with their people could pass over 'The Rainbow Bridge.'

With no place 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 awhile to explain it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned into 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 existance. 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?" the first animal asked.

"That was a rescuer" the second animal said. "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' "

[Judy Harder]

Thanks,             Warph,  This is so touching.

If I could, I would adopt all the animals that are lost.

This breaks my heart, but I know all of the animals will be saved. After all God watches over the "least" and
takes care of us all.

another reason to Spay and Neuter!!

[srkruzich]

ive got 5 there.  Just buried 2 in the last 3 months.

I suppose i'll have a host of furryones there when i finally go

[dnalexander]

Excellent post Warph. Very touching. Man's love of other animals is one of the things that differentiates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. That bond and love is one of the great things about being alive\human. I think we all need a good dose of heartwarming inspiration at this time. Thanks

David

[littlelamb]

that is a very nice story and as i read it i thought how grate is the grace of God to be my rescuer so that i can cross over that bridge when i pass and be at peace with him thank you for sharing
mary

[Wilma]

I am proud to say that I am a "rescuer".  From the starving yellow kitten that I found in my sister's barn to Bud's mama.  There have been many, many animals that my husband and I have found and taken in.  Probably the one that stands out is the red Irish setter that I found one day when I called on an Avon customer.  The customer told me that it was a stray and didn't belong to anyone.  When my husband got home, I told him about her and he went up and got her.  We had her spayed and kept her tied beside the house.  Now a neighbor that lived 2 blocks east of us, saw her every morning when he rounded our corner on his way to his farm.  Word got around to us that he would like to have her to keep out on the farm, so off to his farm she went.  She didn't stay there very long, however, as his grownup children took a liking to her, too.  They had a business with a fenced back yard that they thought she could stay in, so they took her home.  She never got to the shop.  They found that she would come in the patio door, lie down at the edge of the carpet and stay there.  They couldn't bear to take her to the business where she would be alone all night.

But the "rescuers" that I am in awe of are of a different kind.  They are the "rescuers" that take in foster children and give them the caring home that they need for as long as they need it.   These are the true "rescuers" in our world and their place in heaven is truly assured.

[dnalexander]

Wilma again I will say I agree 100% every single solitary word. Keep posting you are saving me a lot of time writing posts.

David