The Giftbox - Faith

It was near the Eve of the Holidays at Rainbow Bridge just as it was on earth below, but for the small gathered crowd the date seemed unimportant - they were worried. The Wind That Whispers swirled in circles as the small crowd watched. "Do you see?" Littlebit asked the Silver One. "She cannot hear the whispers - her pen is still!" The tiny calico paced impatiently. A host of others gathered with her. The timid Prissy watched from the edges clinging to Whizzer. Goldie gathered his ever growing pride - knowing there were only 4 others yet to rejoin the family now. Kung Pao shifted back and forth from Tadpole's side to the Furball gang members already at Rainbow Bridge, not really certain which place he should be. Friskie gazed at her mom in the Reflecting Pond. "She will hear, she always does . . . . " but her voice carried her worries more clearly that her words belied them.





The Wind That Whispers sang quietly to the Silver One, "She hears the words but they do not seem to form, so they are but whispered rumblings. It is she that must clear the clouds that hide the words, but I will keep whispering to her." "She has much on her mind," the Silver One answered, "Her heart is heavy and filled with what ifs and fear she has done too little and acted too late. Her doubts roar loudly right now."





As the gathered ones watched they were joined by still others, 54 by name and a host of others who had left too soon to even be more than a glimpsed face, never named before they were gone, watching anxiously. "Can't we just tell her?" a tiny calico asked the Silver One. "And no, I don't want a name - She can name me when she comes here!" The Silver One smiled, yes - this one was definitely a calico. Before he could answer Blue and Cinnamon arrived with their 15. Blue spoke for them, "Can we help?" The Silver One shook his head, "No, we can watch and send our love, but she must find her faith in herself."





She gazed at her pen and the blank paper, had she ever really heard whispers? Or had the words been simply an overactive imagination triggered by thoughts from hearing other's stories and her own losses? If she could hear the wind whisper why had she not heard when so many took sick this year? Maybe if she had there would not be 10 empty places in the windows and in the sun? Maybe she would not have 2 who were so very ill. "That's right pen," she whispered, "Lie there and mock me, perhaps it is what I deserve . . . ."





A crowd began to form near the Reflecting Pond, and some started to speak to joke about the ones already there being impatient and arriving so early, but the Silver One gave them a look to tell them this was not about the Gift Box. Just then a small angel arrived to place the box at the edge of the pond - the wonderful box that would carry all of the Rainbow Bridge Angels' wishes to their waiting families, and with that everyone's thoughts focused on the box and their wishes. The small angel walked over to the Silver One, "Remind them this is a magical night, that they can choose wishes to send that can help."





As the hour grew close the entire population of Rainbow Bridge joined the rest at the side of the Reflecting Pond, ready to place their wishes and love in the magical box. "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."





Those new to the valley at the Rainbow Bridge always found the box to be a puzzle. They watched as some who had been here a bit walked up to the box and sat - 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. ""How can we choose a wish to send?" Littlebit asked the Silver One. "When it is time you will know what to send," he replied.





A group of the chosen angels now joined the Bridge Angels, glowing with radiant light that was beyond beautiful; each added their prayers and rejoined their group. When all were done a small angel appeared with the others. She looked at Littlebit and smiled, "You still have not added your wishes and love." Littlebit looked at her feet, a bit sad, "because I don't know what to send, and the box is so small that even just my love will not fit with all the other wishes and love in there now. And I have no idea what to send to ease her pain and doubts." "Remind her of her words to others, that He hears all prayers, even those we cannot find words for, and he answers ALL of our prayers. But as with any loving parent, sometimes he sees more clearly than we do, and when he knows that it is what is best for us he dries our tears and cradles our hearts and says no." Littlebit smiled, yes, she remembered Momma saying that. She ran to the box and added her wish and her love for her momma and her daddy.





When she returned she saw the small angel kneel before the box. In a puff of glorious light she vanished and the box closed and began it's journey. Littlebit looked to the other angels, "I didn't even get her name or thank her." The angels smiled at the small calico and the one closest to her spoke, "She knows little one, and she is our gift to all of your loved ones. Her name is Faith."




(c) Candace 12/24/10

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.