Gambler ♣️♥️♠️♦️

There's a gambler—a man who has spent his entire life chasing the next win. For years, casinos were his second home. The thrill of the game, the uncertainty, the possibility of striking it rich—that was what made him feel alive.

Eventually, his life comes to an end.

When he arrives in the afterlife, he's welcomed into what appears to be heaven. He's escorted to the most luxurious hotel imaginable and shown to the presidential suite.

The next morning, he wakes up and opens the closet to find a collection of perfectly tailored tuxedos. The drawers are filled with expensive watches. Rolls of cash sit neatly on the dresser, and the bathroom is stocked with the finest colognes. He gets dressed and heads downstairs. The moment he enters the lobby; people greet him with warm smiles and admiration. Feeling on top of the world, he walks straight to the blackjack table. The dealer smiles.

"You win."

He plays another hand.

"Winner."

He moves to the craps table.

Again. “Winner!"

Every table. Every game. Every bet. He wins. By the end of the night, he's ecstatic. He returns to his suite wealthier than ever, accompanied with a women to celebrate another perfect day.

The next morning, it happens again. Every hand. Every roll. Every spin. He wins.

The following day...The same thing.

And the day after that... Exactly the same.

Three weeks pass. He's sitting at the blackjack table when the dealer looks down at the cards. "Twenty-one. You win.". The gambler slams his fist on the table. "OF COURSE I WIN! I ALWAYS WIN!" he says.

The casino falls silent.

He stands up, furious.

"SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG HERE! I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE HEAD ANGEL. THIS HAS TO BE A MISTAKE!"

A moment later, the head angel arrives next to the gambler and says: "How can I help you, sir?" The gambler shakes his head.

"I win every single time. There’s something wrong here, I don't belong in heaven. I'm not the kind of man who deserves heaven." Then the angel smiles gently, leans in close and says: "Who said you were in heaven?"

If we always got everything we wanted...

If there were no obstacles to overcome...

If time were unlimited...

Would we value our victories—or even our lives—nearly as much?