This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the
farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule praying 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, 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 WOULD 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 how 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 of that well! What seemed like it would bury
him actually helped 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 in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity.
No comments:
Post a Comment