[Dancinglite]

The Rescuer

Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp
as a swamp and 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 that 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. 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 he would not be able to pass. Only those
animals that were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.

With no place else to turn, 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 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

[Lazy F Ponies]

Dancing Lite, that is a great poem, and I really appreciate it. As you know from the other board, we had to put our 31 year old daughter of Doc O Lena down this weekend, it was so hard, but the right thing to do.

We bought her from the livestock auction for $50.00 about 6 months ago, atleast she had a full belly the last 6 months of her life.

She has left footprints forever on my heart.....

[AnnaBelle02]

Hehe, I already posted this a couple days ago! Great story though isn't it?