ZEE'S RAINBOW BRIDGE

"Rainbow Bridge"

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

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

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

-Beyond The Rainbow Bridge-

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played-

I was so very tired and knew my time 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 lush and green and open 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 all right.

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 that no eye can plainly see.

So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart-

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart!

Note From The Bridge

To my dearest family,

There are some things I'd like to say.

But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.

I'm writing this from the Bridge.

Here I dwell with God above.

Here there's no more tears of sadness.

Here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.

Remember that I am 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'll be here later on."

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 that I could tell you all that God has planned.

If I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.

But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.

I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

There are rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb. But together we can do it all one day at a time.

It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too;

That as you give unto the world,the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's 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 all worthwhile. Knowing as I passed along 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're walking down the street with me on your mind;

I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go...from that body to be free.

Remember you're not going...you're coming here to me.

"Little Dog Angel"

High in the courts of heaven today

A little Dog Angel waits.

With the other angels she will not play,

Instead she sits alone at the gates.

"I know my mistress will come," says she,

"And when she comes, she will look for me."

The other angels pass her by

As they hurry toward the throne,

And she watches them with wistful eye

As she sits at the gates alone.

"I know if I just wait patiently,

My mistress will come for me."

Her mistress, down on earth below,

Sits quietly in her chair.

She forgets sometimes and whispers low

To the dog who is not there.

The little Dog Angel cocks her ears

It's her mistresses' voice she hears.

Then when at last her mistress waits

Outside in the dark and cold

For the hand of death to open the door

That leads to those courts of gold,

She will hear a sound through the gathering dark

Her little Dog Angel's bark.

If you've ever known the joyful sound
Of barks that fill the air-

A sloppy kiss, a friendly paw,
A sweet adoring stare-

If you've ever had a special friend
To share a tear or two,

Or maybe just a wagging tail
To lift you when you're blue-

If you've ever felt the wrenching pain
That only death can send,

Then you have lost
Not just a dog-You've truly lost a friend.

But God is good and treasures love
And there at Heaven's gate-

A sloppy kiss, a joyful bark-
Your precious friend awaits.

-A Living Love-

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember....

The first is a day, blessed with happiness,
when you bring home your young new friend.
You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed.
You may have asked numerous
opinions of many vets,
or done long research in finding a breeder.
Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment,
you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter--simply
because something in its eyes reached your heart.
But when you bring that chosen pet home,
and watch it explore,
and claim its special place in your hall or
front room--and when you feel
it brush against you for
the first time--it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through
the many years to come.

The second day will occur
eight or nine or ten years later.
It will be a day like any other.
Routine and unexceptional.
But, for a surprising instant,
you will look at your longtime friend
and see age where you once saw youth.
You will see slow deliberate steps
where you once saw energy.
And you will see sleep when you once saw activity.
So you will begin to adjust your friend's diet--and you may add a pill or two to her food.
And you may feel a growing fear
deep within yourself,
which bodes of a coming emptiness.
And you will feel this uneasy feeling,
on and off, until the third day finally arrives.

And on this day--if your friend
and God have not decided for you,
then you will be faced with making a decision
of your own--on behalf of your lifelong friend,
and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit.
But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you-you will feel as lonely as a single star in the dark night.

If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must.
And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you.

But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years,
you may find that a soul-a bit smaller in size than your own-seems to walk with you, at times,
during the lonely days to come.

And at moments when you least expect
anything out of the ordinary to happen,
you may feel something brush against your leg-
very, very lightly.
And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lay-
you will remember those three significant days.
The memory will most likely be painful,
and leave an ache in your heart--
As time passes the ache will
come and go as if it has a life of its own.

-The Meaning of Rescue-

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked into my warm new bed.
I'd like to open my baggage,
Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry -
So much to regret. Hmmmm ...

Yes, there it is, right on the top,
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my bed hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Or will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things -
And take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
And never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?