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 '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 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 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 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 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 blessed 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 POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT
AND BLESS US!
      Remember that FORGIVENESS, FAITH, PRAYER, PRAISE, and HOPE...all
are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in
which we find ourselves!
      We all understand that at times life is no picnic, however, this
life can also be viewed as awesome and full of possibilities.