Tuesday, February 24, 2004
A story to bring you courage ...
SHAKE IT OFF
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 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!
You're right! 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 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 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 that 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!
-- Author Unknown
liten shan@
3:23 AM
