Toadman
01-26-2000, 03:09 PM
I think this is pretty inspirational, how about you guys?"
SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP
A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule tripped and fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the bleating and ran over to assist. 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 mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling, and the dirt hit his back, it suddenly dawned on the mule 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”.
Just keep right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! It was not long before the mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of the well to the amazement of the farmer and neighbors.
What seemed likely to bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity!
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 potentiaal to benefit us!
SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP
A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule tripped and fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the bleating and ran over to assist. 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 mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling, and the dirt hit his back, it suddenly dawned on the mule 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”.
Just keep right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! It was not long before the mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of the well to the amazement of the farmer and neighbors.
What seemed likely to bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity!
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 potentiaal to benefit us!