[Nfbf-l] Lucky, A wonderful story!

[Alan Dicey]

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!