Author Unknown
The Rescuers' quilt: Cover yourself with this quilt when it seems just
too hard to go on rescuing.

As I arrived at the Bridge, I faced all the animals who had gone there
before me.

Before each of us who go to the Bridge live our lives like the
squares
of
a quilt in many piles, mirrored in the eyes of the animals awaiting us.
An
animal Angel sits before each of us sewing our quilt squares together in
a tapestry that is our life. But as my animal Angel took each piece of
cloth
off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.
They
were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my
life as a rescuer that had been difficult, the challenges I was faced
with
in my quest to save lives and the times I had been tempted to take the
easy way out and avoid the controversy rather than speak for the animals
who
could not speak for themselves.
I saw hardships that I had endured for the sake of the animals, which
were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such
squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries
were
filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed
upon
my own life and was disheartened.
My animal Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together,
threadbare
and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was to
be
displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose,
each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had
been
with the riches of the Earth. My animal Angel looked upon me,
and nodded for me to rise.


My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly
fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter and the sweet kisses of
the
precious animals who honored my life with their presence. But there had
also been the trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that
took
me from
their world as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often
struggled
with
the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up
and
begin again. I spent many nights crying and praying that somehow the
strength
would come to go on, asking for help and guidance as I tried to help the
helpless.
I had often held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each
time
enduring it for the sake of the animals who looked at me with trust and
love in their eyes.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had
to
accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares
of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed
around
at
the animals gathered there, who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I
looked
upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an
image
of an animal who had depended on me. All the animals at the
Bridge stood before me, with warmth and love in their eyes. They said,
"Every time you gave over your life to help us, it gave us life. Each
point
of
light in your life is when you stepped aside and let us shine through,
until
there was more of us than there was of you."
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing the animals to
shine
through.
Please share this with a fellow rescuer who is disheartened or
discouraged.