THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

By the edge of a wood, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush green meadow where time stands still,
Where the four-legged friends of men can run
After their time on earth is all done.

Here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where our beloved pets find rest;
On this golden plain, they wait and they play
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, neither pain nor sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives are all gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies are healed, their strength imbued.

They romp in the grass with never a care…
Until one day they stop! And sniff the air!
Their ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back…
Then all of a sudden one breaks from the pack!

Just at that instant, their eyes have met…
Together again, human and pet!
They run to each other, friends from long past,
The time of the parting is over at last!

The sadness they felt while they were apart
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever
And then, side by side, they cross over … together!

- Author Unknown

A RESCUER AT THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Once in a while, the skies are grey at the rainbow bridge
And an old cat, tired and sick, can be seen approaching.
Those waiting at the bridge stand aside,
As they have been restored to youth and vigor
And this cat has not. They know what will happen next.

The sick old cat goes to a part of the lawn where
Several other sad cats are also waiting and, slowly,
He lies down….for a long patient wait.

A young cat will ask another, “What is happening?
Why is that cat all tattered and sick and
Why is he looking so old, so sad?”
And a more experienced cat will reply,
“That cat had no home, no one to love and
So he has no one to wait for, here at the Bridge.
He cannot cross by himself.
Nobody cared for him when he was alive…
Only a rescuer who took him in until he died.”

Oh, how sadly the forlorn group of cats lie in the shade.
They know they cannot cross the bridge…
They have no hope.
Many days pass by. The sick old cats wait and wait
While healthy, young cats–one after another–are
Embraced by their owners and cross the bridge together.

Then one day, a shaft of golden sunshine
Surrounds an approaching human.
The old cats all get to their feet and he goes to them.
As he touches each cat, petting their heads lovingly,
One after the other…each cat is transformed!
Youthful and gay, their eyes are bright and they are purring!
Now they surround the man and in a joyous group
They cross the rainbow bridge together.

The young cat asks the more experienced one,
“What happened? How did that human do that?”

The older cat responds, “He was a rescuer!
On earth he took in many cats who were homeless,
He nursed them and found them new owners and,
To thank him for his work on earth,
God has granted him the pleasure of taking
All those he rescued with him…into Heaven.”

- Author Unknown

Some collected cat quotes…

To err is human, to purr is feline. — Robert Byrne

The smallest feline is a masterpiece. — Leonardo Da Vinci

If cats could talk, they wouldn’t. — Nan Porter

Every life should have nine cats. — Anonymous

Dogs eat. Cats dine. — Ann Taylor

If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat. — Mark Twain

A cat is there when you call her — if she doesn’t have something better to do. — Bill Adler