Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold, damp, and grey. As dismal a day as you could ever imagine. The pets who had only recently arrived were confused and concerned for they had never experienced a day like this since they had arrived at Rainbow Bridge. They had no idea what to think. But the pets who had spent some time waiting for their loved ones knew exactly what was happening and began to gather at the pathway which led to the Bridge. They knew that this was something special and they wanted to watch.
It wasn't too long before an elderly cat came into view. His head hung heavy and low, his tail almost dragging the ground. The pets on the pathway, well at least the ones who had been at Rainbow Bridge for some time, knew his story straight away, for they had seen this happen far, far too many times. He approached the Bridge slowly. Although it was obvious that his heart was heavy and that he was completely overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or of any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the Bridge this cat had not been restored to his prime. He was neither full of health nor of vigour.
As he made his painful, slow journey he watched the pets who were by now all watching him. He was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He instinctively felt that the sooner he could cross over the happier he would be. But, it was not to be. As he approached the Bridge an Angel appeared and stood in his way. The Angel spoke softly and apologisingly to the old cat told him that he could not pass, for only those pets who were with their special people were allowed to pass over Rainbow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people. Not here at Rainbow Bridge nor on Earth below.
Having no place to go the poor cat turned towards the fields before the Bridge. In a seperate area close he saw a group of elderly, infirm and sad-eyed pets, both dogs and cats just like himself. Unlike the pets waiting for their special people they were not playing. They were just lying around on the green grass staring forlornly and full of misery towards the pathway which led to Rainbow Bridge. He knew that he had no choice - that he had to join them. So he took his place amongst them, just watching the pathway and waiting....
One of the newest arrivals, who was waiting for his special people could not understand what it was that he had just seen and asked one of the pets that had been there some time to explain it to him. Because he had no family, or special person to give his love to he has no one to escort him across the Bridge."
The new pet asked, "But what will happen now?" He was just about to get his answer when suddenly the clouds parted and the all invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge was a lone man. A man who on Earth had appeared to be a quite ordinary man. A man who just like the cat had just left Earth forever. He turned towards the sad group of old animals and held his outstretched palms towards them. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all the unwanted pets were bathed in the purest golden light. In an instant they were all young and healthy again, in the very prime of life. Another group of pets from within the midst of the pets waiting for their special people moved toward the pathway. As they approached the man they each of them bowed low he passed them he patted each of them tenderly on the head and softly spoke their name. Eventually the newly restored pets fell into line behind the man and quietly followed him towards the Bridge. They all crossed together.
"What happened?"
"That man is a Rescuer. He spent his whole life trying to help pets of all kinds. The pets that you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his unselfish work. They will cross over when their new families arrive. Those pets you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a man or woman who spent their whole lives helping animals arrives they are allowed to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor pets that they could not help on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see ALL animals are special to them just as they are special to all animals."
(Authos Unknown)
It wasn't too long before an elderly cat came into view. His head hung heavy and low, his tail almost dragging the ground. The pets on the pathway, well at least the ones who had been at Rainbow Bridge for some time, knew his story straight away, for they had seen this happen far, far too many times. He approached the Bridge slowly. Although it was obvious that his heart was heavy and that he was completely overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or of any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the Bridge this cat had not been restored to his prime. He was neither full of health nor of vigour.
As he made his painful, slow journey he watched the pets who were by now all watching him. He was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He instinctively felt that the sooner he could cross over the happier he would be. But, it was not to be. As he approached the Bridge an Angel appeared and stood in his way. The Angel spoke softly and apologisingly to the old cat told him that he could not pass, for only those pets who were with their special people were allowed to pass over Rainbow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people. Not here at Rainbow Bridge nor on Earth below.
Having no place to go the poor cat turned towards the fields before the Bridge. In a seperate area close he saw a group of elderly, infirm and sad-eyed pets, both dogs and cats just like himself. Unlike the pets waiting for their special people they were not playing. They were just lying around on the green grass staring forlornly and full of misery towards the pathway which led to Rainbow Bridge. He knew that he had no choice - that he had to join them. So he took his place amongst them, just watching the pathway and waiting....
One of the newest arrivals, who was waiting for his special people could not understand what it was that he had just seen and asked one of the pets that had been there some time to explain it to him. Because he had no family, or special person to give his love to he has no one to escort him across the Bridge."
The new pet asked, "But what will happen now?" He was just about to get his answer when suddenly the clouds parted and the all invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge was a lone man. A man who on Earth had appeared to be a quite ordinary man. A man who just like the cat had just left Earth forever. He turned towards the sad group of old animals and held his outstretched palms towards them. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all the unwanted pets were bathed in the purest golden light. In an instant they were all young and healthy again, in the very prime of life. Another group of pets from within the midst of the pets waiting for their special people moved toward the pathway. As they approached the man they each of them bowed low he passed them he patted each of them tenderly on the head and softly spoke their name. Eventually the newly restored pets fell into line behind the man and quietly followed him towards the Bridge. They all crossed together.
"What happened?"
"That man is a Rescuer. He spent his whole life trying to help pets of all kinds. The pets that you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his unselfish work. They will cross over when their new families arrive. Those pets you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a man or woman who spent their whole lives helping animals arrives they are allowed to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor pets that they could not help on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see ALL animals are special to them just as they are special to all animals."
(Authos Unknown)
