Lucky
the Dog.
Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named '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
other favorite toys Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he
was very particular that his toys stay in the box.
Mary
found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die
of this disease. She was sure it was fatal.
She
scheduled the double mastectomy. The night before she was to go to
the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. She began to think of 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 f 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 still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box,
but Mary remains his greatest treasure.
Let’s live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God.
Let’s 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.