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.
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.
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!
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 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.
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, we would always emerge victoriously.
and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or
self-pity, we would always emerge victoriously.
Anonymous
