Lucky

The Kentucky Derby was held last weekend. If I would have bet $2 on the "trifecta," I would have won $500,000. Considering I know nothing about horse racing - I would have been lucky.



I recently found a pair of shoes on sale and in my size for less than $10.00 I felt a wee bit lucky.
I lost an earring in the grass a few days ago and yesterday, I found it back. I felt lucky.



Still, overall, I have not considered myself extremely lucky. I play the lottery and lose. I have had my car towed more than the average person. I have appliances breakdown usually a few days after the warranty expires. I have typed 15-page papers, only to have a "computer error" delete them. It usually rains on the days that I forget my umbrella. I have (in my estimation) a fairly slow metabolism which means I may always battle the last 15 pounds!

In the past, I have been unlucky in friendship. On my 12th birthday, my "best" friend called me to tell me she was no longer my friend. Her reason- I wasn't popular. Until Phil came along, I wasn't lucky in love - Let's just say I was dealt the "friend" card over and over again. I have been known to complain about these things. Woe is me! Why me? Why am I so unlucky?












But, now, my perspective on "luck" has been altered significantly. No, I have not recently won the Ohio Lottery. While that would have been nice, I believe this recent revelation of sorts is perhaps more valuable.

In the past year, I have been closely watching a friend go through the most difficult time in her life. Her child is sick and there is nothing she can do. There is nothing we can do. We are helpless. It is by pure chance that she was dealt this hand in life. She is one of the kindest, gentlest, most caring people I have ever known. If anyone was meant to be "lucky," it should have been her. I get angered by the injustice of it all. Good people should have only wonderful things happen to them. Wouldn't that make more sense? Doesn't it just seem right? Wouldn't that be just?
And yet, here she is facing a reality that is, by all means - unfair, unjust, unlucky. My heart aches for her. I question - Why her?
This then leads to a deeper question - What if it were me? Why am I so lucky?
When dealing the cards of life, how did I get so lucky? I was given two beautiful, healthy children, a loving spouse, great parents, wonderful friends???

If I could re-deal the cards for my friend, I would. If I could shuffle them up and stack the deck in her favor, I would. If I could lend her a "lucky charm" that would take away the pain this situation has caused her, I would. Like I said before, I cannot. The only thing I can do is hug my healthy children a little tighter and count myself among the lucky. Did I just call myself lucky? It is true - I am lucky! Lucky in a way that makes me richer than anyone with a winning ticket.