It had simply shown up one bright morning, the first ones at the reflecting pond noticed it waiting there. It was a lovely box - iridescent in every hue, beautiful beyond words. Those new to the valley at the Rainbow Bridge found the box to be a puzzle. They watched as some who had been here a bit walk up to the box and sit - some looked inside, some simply sat, some closed their eyes and looked lost in meditation - but as each left the box seemed even more beautiful and seemed to glow even more brightly.
  
Shadow and Muff sat watching, the small grey Persian looked up at the black lab, "Do you have any ideas - can you see what it is?" "The box shows up only certain times - like the winter holidays. Oh, not just for Christmas - but all the winter holidays - so everyone's beliefs may be honored," said Muffin. Muffin and his younger brother Tommy had wandered up looking like orange feline twins from the distance. Muffin looked around, "I was hoping Fluffy would be here." Muff looked at the 2 brothers, "but, do you know what that box is?" he asked.
  
Muffin and Tommy smiled at each other. Those who had seen a winter holiday know what the box is - but newer babies will be more timid, will need help to understand.
Those furbabies who have been at the valley at the Rainbow Bridge who have seen one winter will help them to understand. But how does one explain a miracle?
  
Muffin looked up and gave a sigh of relief as he spotted The Silver One and his blue-eyed sister coming their way, he would leave explanations to them and help be sure everyone got a turn. Tommy was glad to see he didn't have to help take charge. He felt braver with Muffin there at his side - but still, to help so many? ShiShi looked at her big brother, "Pooky, I'm worried about the pushing - it's just so undignified of some. After all, there is plenty of time. And we cannot allow anyone to be left out because they don't know." The rest of The Silver One's siblings wandered up. Pooky looked at them and teased them, "It's about time you showed up." They all got comfortable to watch, Taz feigned a yawn and grinned, "well, you and ShiShi seem to have it all in hand, we're here if you really need us. Sister ShiShi, are you gonna tell us the tale? The story of the Gift Box?"
  
Everyone settled in, those who knew never tired of the story, the new ones hoping to understand. ShiShi began quietly, "At the start of the holy days a small box always appears, lovely and delicate, and seemingly too small to be much. It is always very lovely. This is where everyone may place their gifts for the holy days for those they love. When it is full, and every wish is safely placed there it will poof into a most awesome burst of light and travel as a star to earth. It seems not so very large - yet it never is too full for the next gift." "But our people believe so many different things! How can one gift be?" they asked. "Because, at the heart of all their beliefs they all want pretty much the same things," replied ShiShi. The Silver One beamed with pride at his little sister. She continued, "Some will leave Christmas gifts, but there will also be gifts for Chanukah and Winter Solstice, for Ramadan and Kwanzaa, for Ta Chiu and Japanese New Year and Gudjewg. You will have to share these ideas and others with each other, but love and hope and peace are universal."
  
Prissy watched, hidden behind Whizzer - there were too many for the timid one, but she loved the tale - and no one told it better than ShiShi. She had heard the tale every December since her arrival at the valley of the Rainbow Bridge in 1993, but she never tired of hearing it. She looked at Whizzer, "Does it seem the box is lovlier every year?" Friskie and Hazel wandered up as Prissy was speaking and Friskie answered her, "Yes, every year the love packed in the box makes it a bit lovlier." Kuggel, Sparty, and Nike joined the felines to listen and watch. Kuggel looked sadly at the others, "I guess I can't send a Christmas gift to mom." Sparty and Nike looked at each other and tried not to laugh, "No, Kuggel, you cannot. But you can send a Chanukah gift."
  
Edna could no longer contain herself, "I can leave momma a gift? But what? It must be perfect!!" Arthur smiled at his sister; her white fur glowed with health. "Then send her your love and prayers for peace little sister." Zack and Dakota joined the group with Sailor. "We just told Sailor the same thing. Daddy will feel that the most precious gift he can get," smiled Zack. Kato wandered up with Nitro, "Can someone help me explain to this pup that he cannot have a box all his own - that this one IS big enough?" "How can it possibly be, Kato? Just my love for Momma and Dad, and sister Chrissy is bigger than that!" A calm strong voice spoke behind him, making Nitro jump, "Trust the box - it is more than large enough." Nitro spun and found he was face to face with Aurich and a huge golden grin.
  
Baby Bunz brought a large delegation of bunnies to join in. Christoph still found all the pups and larger fur angels a bit, well, large - but he had learned they all got along quite well. "Can I let momma know I am happy and I do visit and I do love her?" he asked. Chocolate smiled, "I like that gift." Choc, Nilla, Coco, and Audie all began whispering to each other - trying to plan the perfect holiday wish. Sandy, Oscar, and Juliet looked at the box, in awe of it's beauty. The bunnies all agreed to include soft bunny hugs in their wishes for their families.
  
Billy and T finally spotted all the reptile angels. "At last," mumbled Billy. "Can you believe Titanito wandered off with all of those cats? I mean - what is soo special about catnip?" T looked thoughtfully at Billy, "he will join us to send our loved ones our holiday gift. Billy, have you noticed the box? That it seems to get more beautiful as each gift is added? Will our simple wishes and love do that too?" Merlin looked up from where he had been lying nearby, "That is the greatest gift there is. Love and wishes for peace of heart."
  
Wiggly scurried about trying to assemble all the hampster, and gerbil, and mice angels to form a holiday choir. Some rat angels joined in - their voices adding depth and richness to the songs of holiday love. Grizzly joined with some larger angels, cows and horses and such, "we can add the bass to the songs. May we be included? Please?" Wiggly grinned, "Of course, just mind your feet so no one is pinched by larger toes."
  
Checkers and Sparky joined Jemima, "Have you seen Sunshine and Ginger? We need to start the preparations for all the celebrations. Maybe Cinder and Neko can help plan the menus. And Little Rupert will know how to pick the best greenery to decorate with." Nitro wandered up, "Well, with my police training I can help with organizing so we don't have traffic jams." "Well - if we don't get things in place it won't matter," Maya said, "There will be no traffic problem if there is nothing to go to." As others volunteered to help the team set about preperations for the celebrations.
  
Nikki and Toby organized the feathered bridge angels to set about the task of searching for all the newest bridge angels. Some like Ziggy and Alfie were only just arriving, and no one would be left out. With everyone helping the newer babies to understand everyone would be able to participate. The newest ones were always a bit confused, after all they were trying to learn about home and the winter holy days celebrations all at the same time.
  
After all was ready the bridge angels all were able to share in fellowship and share their different beliefs, enjoy the most beautiful music imaginable, feast, and participate is so many wonderful parties and traditions. When it seemed nothing could possibly add to the celebrations a host of radiant beings joined them, "It is time," one of them said. The sound was a soft whisper, yet everyone heard it, and was so melodic and beautiful. Slowly all the bridge angels approached the box adding their love and wishes for their loved ones. After each gift was added it seemed the box glowed even more beautifully. When the last gifts were added everyone sat - the ones who had been here before knowing there was one more gift, the newer ones sensing that something special was about to happen.
  
Slowly, the radiant beings moved making a path. A very small angel walked out of their number and approached the box. As the bridge angels watched, the small angel knelt in front of the box and bowed her head, and the box seemed to glow even more brightly and beautifully. Suddenly there was a very bright glow and the box closed. When the bridge angels looked again, the small angel was nowhere to be seen. Goldie looked at the radient beings, "Where did she go? What just happened?" The radiant being closest to him smiled, "She is Hope - she will travel with your gifts of love. She is our gift to everyone everywhere."
(c) Candace
December 2008
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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Light a candle in memory of all those who are hurt or lost, for a sick, abused, or special needs furbaby,
or perhaps just someone who needs a prayer and a candle lit.
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