RescueRainbow

Rescue Rainbow Bridge Poem

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.

"I think I like rescuers," said the first animal.

"So does GOD," was the reply.

(Author Unknown)

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