Love, Sheri
Shake It Off And Step Up!
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 '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 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!
ANONYMOUS (unless you know
who it is, then let me know....)
To Joy
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