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Rainbow Bridge


justloafing
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Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors.

Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge, there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water, and warm spring weather. Those old and frail animals are young again. Those who have been maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other.

But, there is one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up. The nose twitches, the ears are up, the eyes are staring, and this one suddenly runs from the group.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. Your face is kissed again and again and again; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

- Author Unknown

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Thanks, Justloafing! I love the story about the Rainbow Bridge! It gives me goosebumps to think of being reunited with our beloved pets.

Here's the poem I first read that introduced me to the Rainbow Bridge and I dread the day Vixen crosses it, but know that Doobie and Dutchess will be there to play with her till I get there. I just can't imagine a loving God that wouldn't reunite us with those beloved pets.

The Rainbow Bridge

inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

© 1998 Steve and Diane Bodofsky. All Rights Reserved.

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Dear Belle sent me a link about Rainbow Bridge when the best dog in the world, Hershey, had to give up life to cancer. It was very sad for my hubby and me, but this site gave us hope beyond death and the grave.

If you don't believe in it, that your perrogative. Sometimes it's just nice to keep it to yourself.

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awww its sad....

what a beautiful poem

I can't even bare to think of not being with my two boxers, chloe and ty, :unsure:

Just that thought brings me to tears...

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Justloafing,

That is so sad-sweet it brings tears to the eyes.

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Tears to the eyes? Read this one.

I do a lot of transports for rescues. For some that may not know. A rescue is usually a person or persons that have dogs either from kill shelters or abandoned animals. These people work very hard to save as many as they can. Some animals are very sick and the rescuer works very hard to get them back to health. Their main goal is to find them loving forever homes. They have a motto: Saving one animal will not change the world........... But, surely, for that one animal the world will change forever!

Here is the rescues Rainbow Bridge.

THE RESCUE RAINBOW 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 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 cat 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 who were with their people could pass over

Rainbow Bridge.

With no place else to turn to, the elderly cat turned towards

the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other cats like

him, 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 cat 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 cat 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 feline. 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 all 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.

--unknown

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