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 feel 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. 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.
