Anyone who has pets will really like this. You'll like it
even if you don't and may decide you need one.
Mary and her husband Jim had a dog, Lucky. 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 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, 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
night.
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.
Live everyday to the fullest. Remember it is a blessing
from God.
The people who make a difference in your life are not the
ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most
awards. They are the ones that care.
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is
fighting some kind of battle." ↓
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