-------------- Original message --------------
From: David Stahl <[log in to unmask]>

> 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
> 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 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 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. Remember it is a blessing from
> God. The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones
> with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They
> are the ones that care.
>
> Inclusion is generous, but exclusion is selfish.
>