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The
Legend of Rainbow Bridge
 Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet
goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special
friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and
sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been
ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are
made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and
times gone by.
The animals are happy and
contented, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to
them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day
comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are
intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying
over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
YOU have been spotted, and
when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous
reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your
hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting
eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow
Bridge together....
(Author unknown)
The Legend of The
Rescuer's Bridge
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 awhile 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 her 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 her 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.
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