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Dedication
These two stories are dedicated to all the wonderful people who do rescue work:
1.
(A RESCUER’S DREAM)
Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and grey, 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 the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again.
As he walked towards The Bridge he watched all of the 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 apologised, 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 hurried towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of 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 greying 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 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 could not place on earth, Across The Rainbow Bridge.
Author unknown.
 The Rainbow Bridge
In memory of innocent animals who’ve died at the hands of cruelty and abuse.
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2. Little Pieces by Grace Saalsaa (Written for those who foster)
Melissa sat on the floor, unable to sit straight and tall like her
mother had always admonished her to do when she was a child.
Today, it would be impossible. And tomorrow... it probably wouldn't be
possible then either. Her mind was too busy thinking about
the dog that lay across her lap.
When he came to be with her, he had no name. She remembered that day
very well. The first sight of him was enough to break her heart
into little pieces.
The woman, who had taken this dog from the rough streets where he had
lived, had tried to save him because she was unable to watch
this young dog find his own food in a dumpster outside the crack house
where he lived. Nobody cared that he was gone.
His fur was very thick; so thick that she had to wiggle her fingers
down to feel his bony body. And as she pulled her fingers away
again, they were coated in old dirt. Black and white, he was supposed
to be. But on that day he was beige and dust.
He sat in the back of her car panting continuously, ears laid outward
for he had lost his courage and couldn't keep them proud and
tall. He sat motionless, waiting and limp.
But the thing that was the most disturbing was the look in his eyes.
They were quiet eyes, sunken into his head - and they watched
her. They were alive with thought. He was waiting for her to do
something "to" him.
Little did he know at the time that, instead, she would "give"
something to him. She gave him one of the little broken pieces of her
heart.
She reached out to stroke his head and he instinctively squinched his
eyes shut and dropped his head, waiting for the heavy hand.
With that little bit of movement she gave him another one of the
broken pieces of her heart.
She took him home and gave him a bath. She toweled him dry and brushed
some order back into his coat. For that, he was grateful and
even though his own heart was loaded with worms, he accepted yet
another piece of her heart, for it would help to heal his own.
"Would you like some water, big boy?" She whispered to him as she set
down a large bowl of cold well water. He drank it up happily.
He had been dehydrated for a long time and she knew it would take him
most of the week to re-hydrate.
He wanted more water - but it was gone. Ah... that's how it is, he
thought to himself. But he was grateful for what he had been able
to get. "Would you like some more?" and she gave him another bowl
along with another little piece of her heart.
"I know that you are hungry. You don't have to find your own food
anymore. Here's a big bowl of good food for you. I've added some
warm water and a little piece of my heart."
Over the four months that he stayed with her, his health improved. The
heart full of worms was replaced piece by piece with little
bits of her loving heart. And each little piece worked a very special
kind of magic.
When the warmth of love and gentle caresses are added, the little
broken pieces knit together again and heal the container it
resides in. That container becomes whole again.
She watched each little broken piece fill a gap in the gentle dog
until his quiet eyes radiated the light from the little pieces.
You see, kind words gently spoken turn the little pieces into
illumination for the spirit that resides within.
He rested beside her, happy to be with her always. Never had he known
such kindness, such gentle caresses; such love. His health had
returned, his spirit was playful as a young dog's should be and he had
learned about love.
Now his heart was full. The healing was complete. It was time to go.
There was another person who had another heart that was meant
to be shared with him.
So she sat shapeless on the floor because all the broken pieces of her
heart were with the dog. It is difficult to sit tall when
your heart is not with you. She wrapped her arms around the dog that
sat with tall, proud ears for her. Lean on me, he said.
And she gave him one last thing that would keep him strong; that would
keep the pieces of her heart together long after he had gone
on to live his new life. She gave him her tears and bound them to the
pieces with a simple statement made from the ribbons of her
heart.
"I love you, Joe."
And Joe lived happily ever after.
Melissa sat on the floor, straight and tall like her mother had always
admonished her to do when she was a child. Today, it would be
possible. And tomorrow... it probably would be possible too. Because
her mind was busy thinking about this, the next dog that lay
across her lap.
Where did she get the heart to help yet another dog, you ask?
Ahhh... it came with the dog. They always bring a little bit of heart
with them. And when the rescuer breathes in that little bit of
heart, it quickly grows and fills the void left by the last dog
****************
 Sheryll Prowse Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia Phone : 02 69227712 Email : smprowse@bigpond.com |
