Subject: We can learn from an ass
This old farmer had a mule that fell into the farmer's well. The
water wasn't very deep, so the mule was able to stand on the bottom.
The farmer heard the mule praying, or whatever mules do when they
fall into a well and went to investigate.
After assessing the situation the farmer sympathized with the
mule but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving.
The farmer 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 mule was hysterical, but as the farmer and his
neighbors continued to shovel dirt on his back a thought struck him. It
dawned on the mule 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 of dirt hitting his back. Shake it
off and step up...Shake it off and step up...Shake it off and step up
The mule repeated this statement over and over to encourage himself no
matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed, the old
mule fought panic and just kept on shaking it off and stepping up.
It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped over
the wall of the well. What had seemed would bury him actually saved him
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 often have within them the very
real potential to benefit us.
This old farmer had a mule that fell into the farmer's well. The
water wasn't very deep, so the mule was able to stand on the bottom.
The farmer heard the mule praying, or whatever mules do when they
fall into a well and went to investigate.
After assessing the situation the farmer sympathized with the
mule but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving.
The farmer 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 mule was hysterical, but as the farmer and his
neighbors continued to shovel dirt on his back a thought struck him. It
dawned on the mule 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 of dirt hitting his back. Shake it
off and step up...Shake it off and step up...Shake it off and step up
The mule repeated this statement over and over to encourage himself no
matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed, the old
mule fought panic and just kept on shaking it off and stepping up.
It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped over
the wall of the well. What had seemed would bury him actually saved him
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 often have within them the very
real potential to benefit us.
One Dirty Mule
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