'Lucky"

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky'.

Whenever Mary and Jim had company visiting on week-ends, they would warn those friends not to leave their baggage

open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy.

Inevitably, someone would forget and something would soon be missing.

Mary or Jim would then go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would definitely be, amid Lucky's

other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and was very particular that his toys stay in the box.

It so happened that Mary found out on a certain day she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die

of that disease- in fact, she was just sure it was fatal.

She was scheduled for a double mastectomy, fear riding over her head. 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 more grief-stricken than the impending possibility 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, but the dog just drooped- whining and miserable.

Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted that she couldn't

even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to take a nap.

Lucky stood watching Mary but didn't go close when she called.

It made Mary sad but soon she fell into a deep sleep.

When Mary awoke, she couldn't understand what was wrong with her. She couldn't move her head and her body felt
heavy and hot. 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 grieving dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing to his beloved mistress all

his favorite things. He had covered her with his love.

Mary forgot her foreboding thoughts about death. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking together farther

and farther every day.

It's been 12 years now and Mary stays cancer-free.

As for Lucky, he still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary still happens to be his greatest treasure.

Remember to live every day to the fullest.

Each minute is a gift of 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.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your week-end.

Love,

Adv. Alex Abraham Odikandathil

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Bonhomie, Luv Ya, Peace!