Who doesn’t dream of landing a windfall?

Hitting the jackpot may be a fantasy, but what’s the harm in dreaming? Indeed, the chances of winning the major jackpots could be around 1 in 100 million to some 1 in 175 million. But who is deterred? The lines are as long every single day as everyone is hoping to hit the lucky number one day. We must have the same visions, one way or another.

It’s very late on Saturday and you are getting ready for bed. You decided to turn on the TV really quick to catch up with what you missed during the day – - – and with little enthusiasm or hope, you switched the channel to watch the drawing of the state’s lottery numbers. At the back of your mind, you know you it’s another night of, “Yeah, I know, I’m never gonna win” … but, wait a minute! The numbers on your ticket just matched the results! “Hold on, don’t scream yet, look again – - – better be sure than disappointed”. And then, you will realize: You just won the lottery!

So, let us say, you actually hit the jackpot. What would you do first? (apart from screaming, jumping non-stop and probably hugging your worst enemy) Okay, catch your breath. Think.

Feeling anxious to get your hands on that truckload of dough may not really help much in wanting to think straight. Your mind may be racing fast thinking of that dream car and dream vacation of yours. Hm… Seriously, if that’s how you plan to spend your millions, it’s never gonna last that long. I suggest you contain that Euphoria. Wait until your breathing goes back to normal before you start planning on claiming that ticket.

Just May of this year, CBN News reported a story of how Jacki and Gilbert Cisneros became California’s newest millionaires when they struck paydirt in the Mega Millions Lottery after the prize total had rolled over to an eye-popping $266 million. Her newly unemployed husband bought the ticket, and perhaps like the rest of us, was hoping to win despite knowing there is a bigger chance to lose. But the bumper payday never changed the couple. They even insisted that they are not planning a spending spree and Jacki had no plans on giving up her job.

So if you were Jacki or Gilbert, which is not impossible at all, would you do the same? You see, winning comes with consequences. Winners who quit their jobs and run off to the nearest Porsche dealership could be in for a rude awakening. Be inspired how this one guy, Brad Duke carefully spent his millions, but never failed to keep himself and his loved-ones happy.

But before going out and planning to buy that lottery ticket, know what lottery officials said when Jacki and Gilbert won: “The odds of matching all six numbers drawn in Tuesday’s multistate game is 1 in 175,711,536”. And remember, if you gamble money you can’t afford to lose, you should not be gambling.”