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RESCUE AT 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 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, 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 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 waited.
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 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 a 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 couldn't place on
earth across The Rainbow Bridge."
"I think I like rescuers," said the first animal. "So does
GOD," was the reply from the second animal, "so does GOD."
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