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 "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. 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 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.
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 very real potential
to benefit us!!!!
Never be afraid to try something new.....Remember, amateurs built The
Ark...... Professionals built the Titanic.
April, 30, 2000
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