Bill,
Sumpin' for you. <g>
**********
The parable of the farmer and the old mule.
A mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard his mule braying and after fully assessing the situation, while he sympathized with the mule, he 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. Then he enlisted their help to haul dirt to bury the old mule
in the well and put him out of his misery.
Initially, the old mule was terrified. But as the farmer and his
neighbors continued shoveling the dirt on 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 his 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 blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
If we face our problems, 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 bless us.
*******
E! |
