FOODFORTHOUGHT

LUCKY

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 dog just drooped, whining and miserable. But 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. Panic soon gave way
to laughter though when Mary realized the problem. She was covered,
literally blanketed in every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept the
sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement and back bringing his
beloved mistress 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...because every day is a blessing from God! He
covers you with His treasures and His love!

Hugs,

May you always have work for your hands to do.

May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

-- Author Unknown

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