Red Room Where the Writers Are

  The story below was sent to me by a friend.  I have no idea from where it originated.  Yet, those of us with pets will readily relate to it. 

The photo on the above...is my little Sheltie with her "Daddy".  She waits until he is snoring, then sneaks up on the bed and wedges herself between my husband's pillows.  (When he first saw this picture he was shocked!)  Many of us know the heartache we experience when one of our pets gets sick or injured.  Like this little guy with the casts on both front paws.

Here's the story I got from my friend:

Anyone who has pets will really like this. You will like it even if you do not and you may even decide you need one!

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 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 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.

When Mary woke for a second she could not understand  what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body 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. Moreover, never forget... the people who make a difference in our lives may not be the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards, they are the ones that care for us.