Parable

[Guest guest]

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 "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, 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!

 

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!

 

So, the next time you're feeling overwhelmed, remember the mule in the well.

Adversity can raise us to the next level when we use it to our advantage.