The mule in the well!
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 were 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 old mule in the well and put him 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 was not long before the old mule, battered and exhausted,
STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL 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, respond to them
positively,
and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness or self-pity...
The adversities that come along to bury us usually have within
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!
{This was forwarded to me in an e-mail - I do not know its origin)
