A farmer owned an old mule, but the critter fell into the fa=
rmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule braying – or whatever mules do when =
they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer s=
ympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well wa=
s worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together an=
d 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 shovelin=
g and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on hi=
m 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!&=
quot; 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.
=
It was not long before the old mul=
e, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well.=
What seemed like it would bury him, had actually blessed him, all because =
of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
That’s life! If we face ou=
r problems, respond to them positively and refuse to give in to panic, bitt=
erness or self-pity, the adversities that come along to bury us usually hav=
e within them the potential to benefit and bless us!
=
As you go through you=
r week, remember that forgiveness, faith, prayer, praise and hope are all e=
xcellent ways to SHAKE IT OFF and STEP UP, out of the wells in which we fin=
d ourselves!
=
~~=
Dr Bob Griffin
[email protected] www.grif.net
=
Continue steadfa=
stly in prayer,
being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
At the same=
time, pray also for us,
that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ.” (Col. 4:2-3)
=2Ewww.avast.com
=