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....
Author unknown...
"A good man is concerned for the welfare of his animals..."
Proverbs 12:10
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TRIBUTES
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Megan
I got Megan from a friend...which proved to be very timely, as my friend passed away not too long afterwards, from a sudden heart attack.
A purebred Red Persian, she was the sweetest cat. She was passive with other cats, but would hold her ground if challenged. She was so cute, as she would sit up for her food like dogs do.
This year was a difficult one for her. She was ill earlier in the year, but bounced back somewhat, only to fall ill again about a week ago. She was 14 years of age.
I truly believe that an Angel visited her about 24 hours prior to her death...as her whole countenance and appearance changed dramatically, so much so that I wondered if she had taken a turn towards recovery.
She passed the next evening, peacefully, in her sleep.
She will be greatly missed by myself and her kitty friends, Holly and Mandy. But we know that we shall see her again...and that she is with the Lord and waiting at "Rainbow Bridge."
Marcy
November 29, 2009
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Abigail Jeanne
I sent you a prayer request at the beginning of the summer for my 16 year old poodle, Abigail Jeanne. I wanted to thank you again for all your prayers. I wanted to let you know that my Abigail passed away on June 29th Although I knew it was coming, it just doesn't seem possible that we are once again in this situation. Yet, I know to trust in Gods timing because His timing is always correct.
We were hanging in there with everything going on with her but that last weekend in June, she just deteriorated. It all changed so fast. That weekend I sat with her day and night and prayed that God would take her. On Monday morning before I arrived at our vets office, I drove past a church down the street that had three crosses. I held her and prayed there and said if a little robin flies over their and sits on that cross I will know its time, I looked and this little bird which was on the other side of me just sitting there flew up and sat at one of the crosses. It just sat there and didn't fly way. Later in the vets office, when I was having trouble making that final decision and we were trying last minute fluids, I kept thinking back to that morning and thought God told me what to do. He wanted her back now. So I know God had been talking to me because that message was very clear to me. I also had a couple other signs or moments of pure clarity where I just had the clearest perception that God has a plan and to just let it unfold and it will be great.
I remember when Elizabeth, my oldest poodle who passed in the Fall of 2007, was put to sleep I looked up in the sky and I had this overwhelming sense of peace. I wanted that same feeling when Abbie passed. When Abbie was put to sleep, I had a little more of a subtle feeling but again it was one of calmness. As she laid there, my thoughts went to thank God. He had given me Abigail for 16 + years and now she was with Him and that we are to praise God in all things. So I praised Him for her life and for her death. As I opened the door to outside there was a little robin sitting there, right where I had been when she had been put to sleep. As we left the office , I saw two birds flying in the air and I thought of her and her sister up there. Abbie was now free form all of her ailments and an aged body.
We buried Abbie at the Hinsdale Pet Cemetery. She shares a grave there with Elizabeth. The day of the burial, once again, there were robins just sitting there almost like watching us, again providing comfort. It was a beautiful day and there was also a little bunny and then a snake. Now, I have never seen a snake there before but I think it served a symbolic purpose. For alongside one of the tombstones, there we saw a shell of skin.
I thought this is really symbolic of death. That snake shed one body but its still alive and fine and even better. After death our bodies are but an empty shell that the soul has vacated.
When I had the tombstone made for Elizabeth and Abigail, I wanted it to provide a message of faith for all who saw it. So on it are the words
God is Love. For all things come from Him and return to Him.
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has conceived what I have prepared for you.
1st Corinthians 2:9
So please take comfort in that and in the words of Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
In our over complicated world and way of looking at things, I think it could be as simple as the fact that God gave us his only Son, Jesus, and allowed Him to die for us and because of this we have the promise of eternity, a eternity with our animals friends.
God Bless,
Jamie
July, 2009
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