Lucky

Anyone who has pets will really like this. You'll like it even if you don't
and you may even decide you need one!

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog namedLucky. Lucky was a real character.
Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend 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 still steals 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 seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God

Dear God, I pray for the cure of cancer.
Amen