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 farmerheard the mule 'braying' - or - whatever mules dowhen they fall into wells.

After carefully assessingthe situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule,but decided that neither the mule nor the well wasworth the trouble of saving. Instead, he calledhis neighbors together and told them what hadhappened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt tobury the old mule in the well and put him out ofhis misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as thefarmer and his neighbors continued shoveling andthe dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. Itsuddenly dawned on him that every time a shovelload of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULDSHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did,blow after blow.

"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and stepup...shake it off and step up!" he repeated toencourage himself. No matter how painful theblows, or distressing the situation seemed the oldmule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKINGIT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule,battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLYOVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemedlike it would bury him, actually blessed him...all becauseof the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond tothem positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness,or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONGTO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THEPOTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US!

Remember that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER--PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to "SHAKEIT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we findourselves!