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 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 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
from God. 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
seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest
to
God