Mary and her husband
Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.' Lucky was a real character.
Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a week end
visit, they would warn their friends to not leave their
luggage open because Lucky would help himself to
whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would
forget and something would come up missing.
Mary or Jim would go
to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the
treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite
toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and
he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.
It happened that Mary
found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she
was going to die of this disease ... in fact, she was
just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double
mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.
The night before she
was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A
thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky?
Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's
dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be
abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I
didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder
than thinking of her own death.
The double mastectomy
was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and
Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky
for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just
drooped, whining and miserable.
Finally the day came
for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home,
Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the
steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on
the couch and left her to nap. Lucky stood watching Mary
but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary
sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.
When Mary woke, for a
second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She
couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot.
But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized
the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with
every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the
sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement
bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in
life. He had covered her with his love.
Mary forgot about
dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking
further and further together every day. It's been 12
years now, and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He
continues to steal treasures and stashes them in his toy
box, but Mary remains his greatest treasure.
Remember.... Live
every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from
God. And never forget the people who make a difference
in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials,
the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones
that care for us.
If you see someone
without a smile today give them one of yours!
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to
God.
