It was nice, with grassy, woody areas - just what a old horse and man would like, but it had a sign saying

"No Trespassing" so they walked on. They came to a beautiful gate with a person in white robes standing there.

"Welcome to Heaven" he said. The old man was happy and started to ride his horse in. The Gatekeeper stopped him. "Animals are not allowed, I`m sorry but he can`t come with you."

"What kind of Heaven won`t allow animals? If he can`t come in, then I will stay out with him.He`s been my faithful companion all his life, I can`t desert him now."

"Suit yourself, but I have to warn you, the Devil`s on this road and he`ll try to sweet talk you into his area - he`ll promise you anything - but the horse can`t go there either. If you won`t leave the horse, you`ll spend eternity on this road."

So the old man and his horse rode on.

They came to a rundown fence with a gap in it: no gate, just a hole.

Another old man was inside.

"S`cuse me Sir, my horse and I are getting mighty tired, mind if we come in and rest in the shade for awhile?"

"Of course, there`s some cold water under that tree over there, along with a bucket to water your horse. Make yourselves comfortable."

"You are sure my horse can come in? The man down the road said animals weren`t allowed anywhere."

"Would you come in if you had to leave the horse?"

"No Sir, that`s why I didn`t go to Heaven: he said the horse couldn`t come in. We`ll be spending eternity on this road, and a glass of cold water and some shade would be mighty fine right about now. But I won`t come in if my buddy here can`t come too, and that`s final."

The man smiled a big smile and said:

"Welcome to Heaven."

"You mean this is Heaven? Horses are allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren`t?"

"That`s the Devil and he get`s all the people who are willing to give up a life-long companion for a comfortable place to stay. They soon find out their mistake, but then it`s too late. The animals come here, the fickle people stay there.

GOD wouldn`t allow animals to be banned from Heaven. After all, HE created them to be man`s companion in life, why would he separate them in death?"

 

~ Author unknown ~