Bella still was full of questions. And that’s all that it took to find her on Andrew’s lap, under a magnificent banyan tree.
“Questions, Little One?” He asked. “Seems you aren’t the only ones!” Andrew offered treats to the great Pyrenees, and the mountain dog who had joined them under the tree.
“The simplest answer” Andrew said, “is our Father’s house has many rooms”.
“Huh? What house? What rooms?” asked Gus.
Andrew rubbed doggy ears just the right way. A few of the kitties had joined them, which prompted more treats from those magical pockets.
“The common denominator, for all of you is Mousie’s mama, who was also mama to Misty, Buttercup, Flyser!, and many, many others. Before them, there was Pepper, Katie, Nikki, and many before them as well. Your mama spends a lot of time talking to people, both in person, and on the ‘writie box’ as you call it. Because of this, she becomes aware of animals and other families. She also has a keen eye toward wildlife, worrying about if they have enough to eat, and how to best honor them when death comes to them. There’s a connection that flows from her to all of you. While there are many Meadows, many little tufts of clover, there are also many other angels who greet animals who come to the Rainbow Bridge, to wait there for their families to join them.”
“But, what about the homeless ones in shelters? Who are they reunited with?”
“Our creator has a special place for them. Many of them find rescue workers like your mama and other people who rescue wildlife, but there are angels who tend to them, as well as people who come here from earth, who are thrilled to meet them, and add them to their own animal families. There’s enough love to go around,” he said. No one comes here alone or abandoned. All who come here are welcomed, loved, and have their needs met.”
Mousie piped up, “you mean that thing where He knows when even the smallest sparrow falls?”
“You are absolutely right,” replied the angel. “The Creator sees all of us, all of you and more that you’ve never seen. And He cares for all of them. And they will someday be here, while perhaps not in this meadow, in another like it because there are many meadows. No one is forgotten.”
Cody and Gus looked at each other in someway understanding, and in other ways not. "We came here along time ago. Well, not here, but we left the earth, and the man who loved us. And it’s only recently that we’ve come to this meadow. How is that?”
Andrew ruffled the furry coat of one of the big dogs, as they sat beside him. Cody rested his head on Andrew’s lap. “We didn’t know about all this. We were well, and happy, though we missed our family quite a bit. And then one afternoon, a golden retriever named Maggie, and the funniest little cat named Pepper, who carried a parasol of all things, showed up in front of us. Without a whole lot of explanation, they insisted we come with them and the next thing we knew we were here. Wherever here is. Are you telling me that all of the critters that are here have been touched in some way by the same person, even though we didn’t live with that person?”
"That’s about as simply put as it can be. There is a link here that keeps all of you together. The link is the one known as mama to Misty, Mouse, Pepper, Katie, Mittens, and so many others. It is through her love and understanding as she speaks to other pet parents that you all find yourselves and your lives, intertwined.”
“I’m sure the others have taught you how to send your love and thoughts back to the earth to the people who once lived with you. You were never really gone; you are in the memories and hearts of the people who loved you. Just as the wild critters are in the memory and heart of this woman who does her best to look out for all of you.”
Gus studiously scrubbed a paw. He had heard one of the cats say “when in doubt, wash“. Seemed like a good idea at the time, it gave him a moment to think about things, and how he would word the next question he had.
“How is it that we all understand each other? Whether we speak dog, or cat, or bird, or whatever, we seem to be able to understand each other. How is this?”
Andrew chuckled. “I suppose you could say it’s one of the perks of being here. Just as I can understand all of you, you can understand each other. And there is no animosity here, cats playfully chase mice, mice, being, totally fearless, and knowing that they’re not going to get caught and be eaten. Foxes play with fawns while mother deer watches. Everyone is safe here. Everyone has a place. There is no fear, no pain, no ill health. This is the hereafter that our Creator provided for us. I’ve heard it called a ‘mystery’ and perhaps that’s the best word for this. It is truly a mystery, and no one will fully understand it until they’ve come here, and gone up the hill through the great gates.”
“In the meantime, all of you can get to know each other better, swap stories about where you were, and who you were with, talk about the people that had loved you, and at any time you can send your love, and your thoughts, to those you left behind. They can’t see you anymore, but you’re never really gone. You live in their hearts and in their memories. You can comfort them when they’re asleep. There have been many nights when Mousie has kept a vigil over her mama because so many things cause anxiety for her mama. There are nights when she curls up on the pillow, and purrs, knowing that her mama hears her, even though she’s asleep. It’s the same for all of you from the smallest mouse to the biggest bear, from the littlest kitten to the largest dog. Here is simply a waiting place. Where time isn’t measured the way it is measured on earth. It may seem like a long time to the people who miss you, but for you, it won’t seem long at all till they’re here.”
Andrew watched as the dogs and cats around him digested his words. He had had many similar talks with others when they came, and he remembered Grandpa Max with whom he had many conversations. It always pleased him when Max would come back to be with him for an afternoon. Max had by now been joined by his human, and he and other kitties, had all gone through the gates to heaven. But they were still free to come, and go, and as Max had had a special relationship with Andrew, he often visited.
Slowly, the animals curled up and drifted off to sleep. He smiled at Mouse and Misty who were snuggled up tp the two large, furry dogs. Just as they were often snuggled up with Maggie and Molly, the golden retrievers who had come here some time ago. These were new friends, who had come to this family of critters more recently. As Andrew learned more about the woman on earth, he did what he could to find others, who have already arrived at some other time, and brought them here.
Katie, in her simple unabashed way had said “Andrew has them transferred to our meadow”. It had struck him funny, but in reality that was about what happened. He slowly undid himself from the pile of sleeping animals, and left them to their dreams …
…. and once again marveled at all of them, grateful for his time with them ...
c) Rose Scott
January 3, 2023
