Miracle of The Bridge

                Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as
                a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. Recent arrivals had no idea what
                to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the other
                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 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 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 toward The
                Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

                "What happened?" asked the first animal.

                "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."