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 not to 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.
One day 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! That 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.
Lucky stood watching Mary but he did not 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 could not understand what was wrong. She could not move her head and her body felt heavy and hot.
However, 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 has 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.
Remember...live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God.
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 and love us.
If you see someone without a smile today, give them one of yours!
Live simply.
Love seriously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
And...Please...pray for the cure of cancer.
