A 26-year-old single mom won Powerball because sometimes the universe is fair

Sometimes things just work out the way they are supposed to, and this time it really seems like destiny agrees.

Marie Holmes is the luckiest woman on the planet this week, but she also might be one of the most deserving. Marie is one of three winners in Wednesday’s $564 million Powerball drawing (which is a jackpot HUGE even by Powerball standards). With this win her, pretty complicated and difficult, life just got a whole lot easier — and it sounds like she really deserves this unbelieavable break.

Marie, who is a 26-year-old single mother of four, recently had to quit her two jobs at Walmart and McDonalds to take care of her children, one of whom has cerebral palsy. Just when things were looking their darkest, Marie bought a Powerball ticket at her local gas station and the rest is millions and millions of dollars worth of history. This incredible bit of luck couldn’t have come at a better time. She told her local news station WECT, “I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I saw the ticket and checked it.”

She didn’t have a heart attack, thank goodness, but she did immediately started making some pretty selfless plans for the money. Her share of the winnings could end up being $188 million, but it definitely won’t be the root of any sort of evil. She wants her four children “to understand that money doesn’t change you,” so her first stop is church. She told reporters, “First, I am going to pay my tithes as I would have none of it wasn’t for God.” Next, is on to the lawyers and financial planners where she hopes to buy a house and set up college funds for all four children.

Marie told the news station, “All the struggle that I ever went through, it was all for them [her children]. They don’t have to worry about debt; they can go to college, all on me; and they don’t have to worry about nothing, and I am glad I can do that for them.” Marie’s three girls and a boy suddenly have a very different future in front of them, and it’s looking pretty bright. I know that money can’t buy happiness, but we all know you can’t put a price on relief like this either.

Wednesday’s drawing marks the third largest pot in lottery history, and Marie’s portion could wind up breaking North Carolina’s records as well. The other two winners have yet to come forward, but lottery officials know the other winning tickets were purchased in Texas and Puerto Rico. So congratulations to Marie. I guess we can’t be mad that we didn’t win knowing that the winner is someone who SO deserves it.

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