Parable of the Mule in the Well

One day 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 thinking over the situation, the farmer decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.  So, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and asked them to help him haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

As the first shovelfuls of dirt began to rain down on the old mule; he became 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 COULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!  This is what 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" and just kept right on SHAKING   IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

You're right!  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.

We need to take our problems and shake them off and use them for a step

upward !!! When we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COMES ALONG TO BURY US CAN BECOME A 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!

Your friend and brother in the service of King Jesus