The Rescuer's Final Reward

The Rescuer's Final Reward

Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray.
All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as
they had never seen such a day.  But the animals who had been waiting
longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew
what was happening, and they began to gather at the pathway leading to
the Bridge.

Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He
approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he
was in great emotional pain.  Unlike the animals gathered along the
pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at
the Bridge.  He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and
find happiness.

But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who
apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog
could not cross over.  Only those animals accompanied by their people
were allowed to cross the Bridge.  Having nobody, and with nowhere else
to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge.

There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and
discouraged.  Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge,
these animals were not running or playing.  They simply were lying in
the grass, staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge.
The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting
yet not knowing for what he was waiting.

One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there
longer to explain what was happening.  The cat replied, "Those poor
animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never
found a home on earth.  They all passed on with only the love of a
rescuer to comfort them.  Because they had no people to love them, they
have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge."

The dog asked the cat, "So what will happen to those animals?"  Before
the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to
bright sunshine.  The cat replied, "Watch, and you will see."

In the distance was a single person, and as he approached the Bridge the
old, infirm and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light.
They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their
fate would be.  The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway
bowed their heads as the person approached.  At each bowed head, the
person offered a scratch or hug.  One by one, the now youthful and
healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person.
Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness
and unquestioned love.

The dog asked the cat, "What just happened?"

The cat responded, "That was a rescuer.  The animals gathered along the
pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes
because of rescuers.  They will cross over when their people arrive at
the Bridge.  The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event,
and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue.
They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn't place on
earth across the Rainbow Bridge."

The dog thought for a moment, then said, "I like rescuers."  The cat
smiled and replied, "So does heaven, my friend.  So does heaven."

Thanks to Barb for submitting this,

Source: HANDICATS2