Author Unknown

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! 

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