February 29, 2008

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  ~ MARY AND HER DOG LUCKY ~
  
  A true story of a dog and the one he loves …

  Anyone who has pets will like this story.
  You’ll like it even if you don’t, and you may even decide you need one!
  But first … here’s a poem I saw in a veterinarian’s office framed on a wall.

  ~ God – Spelled Backwards ~

  When God had made the earth and sky,
   The flowers and the trees.
  He then made all the animals,
  The fish, the birds and bees.
   And when at last He’d finished,
   Not one was quite the same.
   He said, “I’ll walk this world of mine,
   And give each one a name.”
   And so He traveled far and wide
   And everywhere He went,
   A little creature followed Him
   Until its strength was spent.
   When all were named upon the earth
   And in the sky and sea,
   The little creature said, “Dear Lord,
   There’s not one left for me.”
   Kindly the Father said to him,
  “I’ve left you to the end.
  I’ve turned my own name back to front
   And called you dog, my friend.”
  
  Author Unknown

  

  Mary and her husband, Jim, had a dog named ‘Lucky.’  Lucky was a real character.  Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a week end 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.  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 day.  It’s been 12 years now, and Mary is still cancer-free.  Lucky?  Well, he continues to steal 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 that 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 generously.

   Care deeply.

   Speak kindly.

   Leave the rest to God.
  
  “In the shadow of His hand He hid me.”  What a beautiful picture of the loving, nurturing care with which God surrounds His children.  It is as though the hand of God were cupped over each of us, forming its protective shield against all danger, affording us shelter from the blazing heat of adversity. 
  
  Because we are hidden in the shadow of His hand, no foe can alarm us, no harm can befall us.  Under His protecting hand we are safe from every evil that would assail us.  The shadow of His hand affords peace and rest.  For Jesus’ sake, the hand that casts the shadow removes from us our every burden of guilt and shame. In the shadow of His hand we find spiritual refreshment, for there we feed on His Word, and there we are blessed by His Spirit, who restores our souls and renews our hearts.  Isaiah 49:2   ~ Anonymous
  
   In the shadow of His hand, He indeed covers us with His love!   Be blessed!  Hugs … <><
  
  
  

  
  

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