For the little ones that have gone from our lives, but never from our hearts. Fly high and free at 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 the recent arrivals were confused and concerned. They had no idea what to think for they had never experienced a day like this before. But the birds who had spent some time waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was happening and began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge to watch.

They knew this was something special.

It wasn't too long before an elderly bird came into view, head hung heavy and low with tail feathers dragging along the ground. The other birds on the pathway...the ones who had been at Rainbow Bridge For a while... knew the story of this sad creature immediately. They had seen it happen far to many times 

Although it was obvious the bird's heart was leaden and he was totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or any illness. Unlike the birds waiting at the Bridge, this bird had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither health nor vigor. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all the birds who were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But alas, as he came closer to the Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old bird and apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he would not be able to pass. Only those birds who were with their special people could pass over the Rainbow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people....not here at the Bridge nor on earth below. 

With no place else to turn, the poor elderly bird looked toward the fields before the Bridge. There, in a separate area nearby, he spotted a group of other sad-eyed birds like himself...elderly, infirm or unloved. Unlike the birds waiting for their special people, these birds weren't playing, but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly and miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the Bridge. The recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them. And so, he took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at the Bridge, who was waiting for his special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the birds who had been there for some time to explain it to him.

That poor bird was a rescue, sent to the rescue when his owner grew tired of him. They way you see him now, with dirty feathers and sad, cloudy eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was given to the rescue.

He never, ever made it out and passed on only with the love and comfort that the rescuers could give him as he left his miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no family or special person to give his love, he has nobody to escort him across the Bridge.

The first bird 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 all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge could be seen a single figure...a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite ordinary...a person who, just like the elderly bird, had just left Earth forever.

This figure turned toward a group of the sad birds and extended outstretched palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all were bathed in a pure and golden light.
Instantly, each was young and healthy again, just as they had been in the prime of life.

From within the gathering of birds waiting for their special people, a group of birds emerged and moved toward the pathway. As they came close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a tender touch. Their eyes grew even brighter as the figure softly murmured each name. Then, the newly restored birds fell into line behind the figure and quietly followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed together.

The recent arrival who had been watching, was amazed. "What happened?"

"That was a rescuer," came the answer. That person spent a lifetime trying to help birds of all kinds. The ones you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of such unselfish work.
They will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw restored were ones who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are permitted to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor birds that couldn't place on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. 

You see, all birds are special to them, just as they are special to all birds."

"I think I like rescuers," said the recent arrival.

"So does God," was the reply.
 

 
My view of Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When a bird dies that has been especially close to someone here, that bird goes to the Rainbow Bridge. At the Rainbow bridge, there are meadows, hills and beautiful trees of all kinds where all our special friends can fly and climb, hang and flap, hop and run, jump and play, squark and squeal and sing together.  

There is plenty of good food, including grapes and nuts, ice cream and cheese, spaghetti and especially lots of pizza. There is crystal clear water in brooks and springs are filled with water as well as every kind of delicious fresh fruit juice.

One warm spring even runs full of the coffee they can now drink their fill of without hearing a single no-no. There is a lot of glorious sunshine and sweet warm rain when they want it and our friends are warm and comfortable and totally at peace.

All the birds that had been ill or old are restored to health and vigour and to their natural incredible beauty. Their feathers shine, their wing feathers are whole and their eyes gleam once again with vitality. Those who were hurt, maimed, ignored, or broken-hearted are made whole again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by.

The birds are happy and content. Except for one small thing: they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind when the bird returned home. Still they all fly and play happily and safely and noisily together: even the grouchiest greys and orneriest senegal, the tiniest finches and the grandest macaws 

But the day comes for each bird when he suddenly stops and looks far into the distance. His body freezes and his bright eyes are intent as he watches and listens in silence. Suddenly he begins to fly from the group, soaring over the green grass, his wings flapping harder and harder!

You have been spotted - and he shrieks to you and then calls your name and his own and cries again and again, as he rushes towards you. When you and your bird finally meet, you cling to each other in joyous reunion, knowing you will never be parted again.

Your face and your fingers and even your toes are covered with beak nibbles and soft ecstatic kisses. Your hair is preened by that special beak, and his head bends under your fingers to invite your touch. Your hands again find their way under beloved wings, to caress the downy softness beneath.

You look once more into the trusting eyes of your companion, so long from your physical life on earth but never for an instant absent from your heart. Your tears of joy are gently brushed away by those beloved wings and feeling immersed once more in total contentment and love, you and your beloved companion cross the Rainbow Bridge together.