A parable is told of a farmer
who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard
the mule ‘braying’ or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.
After carefully assessing the
situation the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the
mule nor the well was worth the trouble
of saving, instead he called his neighbors
together and told them what had happened…..and enlisted them to help haul dirt
to bury the mule in the well and put him(mule) out of his misery.
Initially, the old mule was
hysterical!!!!. But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the
dirt hit his back…..a thought struck him. It suddenly
dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back…. He
should shake it off and step up!! This he did blow after blow.
‘Shake it off and step up….shake it off and step
up….shake it off and step up!!!! He repeated to encourage himself. No
matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule
fought ‘panic’ and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up!
It wasn’t long before the old
mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall out of that
well!!! What seemed like it would bury
him actually blessed him…..all because of the manner in which he handled his
adversity.
That’s life!!! If we face our
problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give into panic,
bitterness, or self pity……the adversities that come along to bury us usually
have with them the potential to benefit and bless us!!!. Remember forgiveness,
faith, prayer, praise and hope…..all are excellent ways to ‘shake
it off and step up’ out of the wells in which we find ourselves!!
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