While Andrew's charges were usually the dogs and cats who had connections back to one woman, occasionally someone special came along. The woman was a quilt maker, who had made many friends around the world because of her craft. There were people whose time on earth had expired, now residents of Heaven, who came to Andrew's meadow to reunite with their furry companions. Those were always great days. The woman's computer (or "writie box" as some of them called it) was the tiny thread that provided connections around the world, across time, and generations.
Every man, woman, child or critter in Heaven has something to do! Scripture states "My Father's house has many rooms...". But "rooms" can be meadows, dwellings, forests, all with angels who tend to them. It's just such a meadow where Andrew spends his time, listening to tales of the great adventures of highly imaginative creatures!
Today was different. He sat under a tree thoughtfully chewing on a twig of wintergreen. A fluffy, white Great Pyrenees lowered his head to Andrew's lap.
"You're thinking the same things I am, aren't you?" the angel asked.
Cody thumped his tail. "You forget we can listen to YOUR thoughts too! And yes, I am. We know he isn't alone, his cousin and Grandfather are with him. But it's still a lot for a little one to process."
"... and even worse for his family. I cannot fathom it. Perhaps if we brought them here, to visit with us ...
The angel and the dog sat in silence.
"You're NOT going on a great adventure and leaving me out! humph." This, from one peeved pussycat, with her fur all fluffed up, indignantly stomping her paws. She appeared at Andrew's feet. "I've already passed the word, some of the others are rounding up the rest, and preparing. So, get up, let's go get them!" Tact was not Katie's strong suit. "Perhaps it would be simpler for you to just "poof" them here, like you do with us!"
With that, Andrew rose, and as he did the dog's nose zeroed in on a pocket ... from which came a dog- sized treat.
"What's with dogs? All they think about is FOOD! Oh, for me?" she said sweetly as a smaller more appropriate cat-sized goodie was offered.
"I think we'll go to the rock to make acquaintances, and "wing it" if you'll pardon the expression!"
Cody groaned. "Never quit your day job, Andrew, you won't last one hour as a stand up comic."
The strange three-some headed toward "council rock" as it had once been dubbed by Grampa Max. It made the most sense, as that was always where arrivals took place. Many of the others had already gathered. Cats and dogs were there, one of which carried a gourd with a pink fish in it. Deer, rabbits, an opossum. (I'm not a possum, I'm an Ambassador!" he explained.)
They all watched excitedly as the mists from the Creek parted and three approached. A little one, perched on his cousin's shoulders, and Grandfather, escorted by a lovely golden retriever. They hadn't quite gotten used to the idea they could talk to a dog, who talked back, but then there hadn't been anything "usual" about any of this since the youngest one arrived.
Maggie stopped in front of Andrew. "Here we are! Just like I told you!"
Andrew smiled at the child, as the other two sat down beside Maggie. "Hello Nathan! We are glad to see you today!" He held out his hand to Grandfather, and then to Jason. "I must apologize for startling all of you, but we wanted to meet you."
"Which would you prefer? Nathan or Nathanial?" The child's eyes couldn't have opened any wider! He had never seen so many animals! And he didn't know what many of them were for that matter.
"Grandfather and Jason, let me explain a little. Many many years ago, a woman on earth learned to use a computer, to connect with people all over the world who also were interested in the same things she liked. From time to time, someone would lose a pet, or an animal would be killed on a highway, and when that happened, she shared with her world what happened next. While this is what she imagined, she's not very far from the truth!!
"All are greeted, whether man or beast. Thousands of years ago God made a promise to the world that no matter how mad at us as He got, He wouldn't wash the earth clean again as He once did. To give us a sign of that promise, He set a great rainbow in the sky. God is unwilling that ANY be lost.
"Most people go straight to the Great Gates of Heaven, but critters stop here first, to wait for those who loved them most on earth. Once their people arrive, they come down the hill from that Great Gate, to be reunited with the critters who went before. They all go back through the Gate to spend eternity together.
"With wild life, Man was told "Not a sparrow falls. ALL critters come here first, to the many meadows. (remember "My Father's house has many rooms"...) Some stay here, with all their needs met by the many angels who serve God. Typically those are the wild life, or those who had no one on earth who loved them."
"Pets, and some wildlife ...
"Like ME!" the chubby opossum said. "I'm a 'bassador to teach people that opossums are wonderful!!"
Andrew chuckled, offering an opossum-appropriate tidbit to his little friend. "Yes, even Ambassadors, will one day be reunited with the wonderful man and wife who took opossums to schools to educate people about all the wonderful things they do for Man, despite not being the "cutest" of the animal kingdom."
"yep, we is 'portant!!" He chewed in pleasure at the treat offered by the angel. "Tell them about the pockets!!!"
Andrew chuckled as he fished in his famous pockets. In a blink, every critter present had something greatly favored to nibble on. Not to be outdone, he produced a banana for Nathan!
The little one looked up at his Grandfather, and then his cousin, but both encouraged him saying "It's for you, Nathan, take it!"
With a grin, the little boy did just that! His eyes never left Andrew's, as he happily munched on the banana. Before he realized what happened, HE was on Andrew's lap!
"The people Nathan left behind are suffering. It is our job to remind them that first of all Nathan is just fine, and that why things happen isn't always understood. They also need to remember that Jesus LOVES children.
"We can purr," offered Mouse, the sweetest kitty ever, who periodically visited her Mama. "Sometimes I sneak away during the night, and curl up on her pillow. She can't see me, but she senses my presence, and I purr for her."
"I happen to know that almost ALL of you sneak away at times to offer comfort."
The doe with two beautiful fawns nudged them closer to Andrew with her nose. "They will make good playmates for young Nathan."
This little boy sat there on Andrew's lap, eyes big as saucers! He had no idea what most of these animals were, but they were all so friendly. He looked up at Andrew with questioning eyes.
"Yes, Nathan, you may play with them whenever you wish! They will enjoy your company. Grandfather and I can sit under that big tree over there and talk about things from years ago."
Andrew continued. "The hardest part of all this will be for his mother, father and sisters he left behind. Their grief is deep, and will be hardest to heal. From time to time you will take him home to his Mother, and put him against her stomach as she sleeps. She will not hear him, nor feel him in the manner you might expect, but she will sense, in her sleep, that he is there. Just as your Mama knows when one of you sneaks off to visit her."
"And Nathan's family will see him sneak around a corner, or hear him giggle when they least expect it. Just as she sees some of you. In the wee hours of the mornings, you have settled quietly on her pillow and purred, ever so softly, and she smiles in her sleep."
All of the animals nodded in understanding. They had made many journeys to earth over time. There is no "time" as humans think of it, everything kind of runs together. They would whisk Nathan on such visits from appropriate.
But He knows. He knows when even a sparrow falls ...
Andrew put Nathan down on the soft grass, in the middle of all the animals. He tugged on ears, petted heads, giggled at the wet-nosed kisses from the dogs ...
... Andrew faded from sight. There wasn't much more than he could do. It frustrated him sometimes, and he felt like grumbling at God ...
"... you can't. You know you can't." Andrew looked down to find Pepper looking up at him. He picked her up.
"You don't miss much, do you," he asked as he buried his nose in her soft fur. "I ought to be able to fix this."
"It doesn't work that way," she purred.
As they drifted off Andrew caught Buttercup and Flyser! at the edge of the meadow, eyes closed, purring their hardest, sending their thoughts to earth as the woman sat in front of her computer. Tears came, as they usually did ... She closed her eyes, and felt the faint sandpaper tongue gently licking them up as they fell ...
She heard Flyser! "Hush, Mama, we got this..."
©Rose Scott
08/23/25
