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For all who have northern dogs waiting north of the Rainbow
Bridge:
The time
comes. A sled dog lifts up its head. There is an untested
adventure beyond. Time to go. Across the Rainbow Bridge is a
place for all dogs. A river runs wide and shallow with tennis
balls that fly with their own wings; that is the place for a
Labrador or Golden to await its master's arrival. A sled dog is
not content here. Northward is its trail....
There are soft pastures for Aussies and Border Collies, with sheep
and geese to pen. Agility equipment grows like trees amid
Frisbees and flyballs. But the North continues its sure wild
call, and the sled dog's journey continues....
Now the air is colder. Now the moon is always full. Now the
light is silver and it breaks and shimmers on fields of bright
snow. Now there are no roads, no walls, no pens, just endless
space to run. This is where the sled dogs (Alaskan Malamutes,
Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies, Alaskan huskies, and others) gather,
North of the Rainbow Bridge.
They wait in this beautiful place, happy but not complete.
Suddenly, a howl begins as one dog senses someone coming, someone
very special. All the sled dogs raise their heads and join in the
ancient chorus. They dance like moonbeams and sing like winter
winds.
There are red ones like dawn streaks, black ones splattered with
many colors and silver ones like the first strange hour before
light. They line up as if in harness and run together, in a
scintillating, many-colored streak. The leader of the team guides
the others past the fields and river, with racing feet and racing
heart. They rush to greet the new arrival at the Rainbow Bridge,
where the leader is rejoined with its beloved person, never to be
parted again.
The glory of the reunion is celebrated by all the sled dogs
dwelling beyond the Bridge, a shimmering, multicolored team
leaping and whirling with joy. The light from that scene is what
we see on magical evenings in the northernmost parts of this
Earth: The Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights beyond the Rainbow
Bridge.
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The Journey
by Crystal Ward Kent
When you bring a pet into your life, you begin
a journey - a journey that will bring you more love and devotion
than you have ever known, yet also tests your strength and
courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things,
about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will
come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another
without leaving its mark. Along the way, you will learn much about
savouring life's simple pleasures - jumping in leaves, snoozing in
the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good
scratch behind the ears.
If you spend much time outside, you will be
taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf,
or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked,
and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as
being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower -
except when heading home to the food dish - but you will become a
better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.
Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to
complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the
details - the colourful mushrooms on the rotting log, the
honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a
twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world.
We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in
tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog
knows: that nature has created a marvellously complex world that
is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever
changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.
I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all
paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as
the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a
trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the
strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too
short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them,
really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are
generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their
spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.
The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and
frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy
wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now grey. Deep down we somehow
always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave
our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is
all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves
ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let
them run on ahead - young and whole once more.
"Godspeed, good friend," we say, until
our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.
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A Parting Prayer
Dear Lord, please open your gates and call St. Francis
to come escort this beloved companion across the Rainbow Bridge.
Assign her to a place of honor, for she has been a faithful
servant
and has always done her best to please me.
Bless the hands that send her to you, for they are doing so in
love and compassion,
freeing her from pain and suffering.
Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss.
Help me remember the details of her life with the love she has
shown me.
And grant me the courage to honor her by sharing those memories
with others.
Let her remember me as well
Let her know that I will always love her.
And when it's my time to pass over into your paradise, please
allow her to accompany those
who will bring me home.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of her companionship and for the
time we've had together.
And thank you, Lord, for granting me the strength to give her to
you now.
Amen.
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Beyond the Rainbow
As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.
I saw a wondrous image then of a place that's trouble-free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.
I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful -- lush and green and wide!
And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!
My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do.
I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright
That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright Glow pierced the
night.
'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining bright and strong and bold
And I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of
gold.
For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,
We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.
So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.
Cate G. - 1995
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If It Should Be
If it should be I grow frail and weak
And pain prevents my peaceful sleep.
Then you must do what must be done
When this last battle can't be won.
You will be sad, I understand.
Selfishness might stay your hand.
But on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship take the test.
We've had so many happy years
That what's to come can hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer.
So, When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend.
Only -- stay with me until the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me.
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know, in time, you, too, will see
It is a kindness that you do for me.
Although my tail it's last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Do not grieve it should be you.
Who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years......
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
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A letter from Heaven
To my dearest
family, some things I would like to say,
But first of
all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I am writing
this from Heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here there are
no tears of sadness, here is just eternal love.
Please do not be
unhappy just because I am out of sight.
Remember that I
am here with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had
to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up
and hugged me and He said -
"I welcome you.
It's good to have you back again.
You were missed
while you were gone.
As for your
dearest family, they will be here later on
I need you here
badly, you are part of my plan.
There is so much
we have to do to help our mortal man."
God gave me a
list of things that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on
the list was to watch and care for you,
And when you lie
in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight,
God and I are
closest to you.......... in the middle of the night.
When you think
of my life on earth, and all those loving years,
Because you are
only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be
afraid to cry, it does relieve the pain.
Remember there
would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish I could
tell you all that God has planned -
If I could tell
you, you wouldn't understand
But one thing is
for certain, though my life on earth is over,
I am closer to
you now, than I ever was before.
There are many
rocky roads ahead for you and many hills to climb
But together we
can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my
philosophy and I would like it for you too,
That as you give
unto the world, the world will give to you
If you can help
somebody who is in sorrow and pain;
Then you can say
to God at night ....."My day was not in vain"
And now I am
contented..... that my life was worthwhile
Knowing as I
passed along the way I made somebody smile.
So if you meet
somebody who is sad and feeling low;
Just lend a hand
to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you are
walking on the street and you have got me on your mind;
Just remember I
am walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it is
time for you to go.... from that body to be free
Remember you are
not going.......but you are coming here to me.
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THE FLAMING BRIDGE
Just this side of Hell is a place called the Flaming Bridge.
When an abused animal dies, it stops by to discuss its life with
the Keepers of the Flaming Bridge before continuing on to the
Rainbow Bridge. The Keepers of the Flaming Bridge compile a Master
List of animal abusers, so that they will be able to recognize
them and confront them with their actions when they die.
Across fields of flame roll cries of agony, mimicking the pain
inflicted on the innocent animals by their heartless abusers.
But the animals are not there crying out - they have gone on to
Rainbow Bridge and their just rewards for the innocent lives they
have lead. The cries come from the dark cohorts of the Keepers -
savage beasts out of the worst nightmares of the animal abusers
for whom they wait. Patiently, they wait, planning for the day
when the abuser arrives. Then one day, their cries grow more
urgent. Their eyes burn with an eerie, unearthly glow. Savage
glee lights their hideous faces, and as one they turn and run.
Faster and faster they run, flying over the ruined land, drawn on
by their quarry.
The abuser has arrived at last, and when the pack reaches him
they fall upon him to wreak their vengeance. His flesh is flayed
from his body as their reeking breath and shrieking laughter fill
his agonized consciousness. But he does not die - his pain will
continue, forever. Then the pack drags the abuser across Flaming
Bridge, down into that special place in Hell reserved just for
"people" like him......
-Author wishes to remain anonymous
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