This old farmer had a mule that fell into the
farmer's well.
The
water wasn't very deep, so the mule was able to stand on the
bottom.
The farmer heard the mule praying, or whatever mules do when they fall into a well and went to investigate. After assessing the
situation the farmer sympathized with the mule but decided that
neither the mule nor the well was worth saving. The farmer
called
his neighbours 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
neighbours continued to shovel dirt on his back a thought struck
him.
It dawned on the mule that every time a shovel load of dirt landed
on
his back he would shake it off and step up.
This he did, blow
after
blow of dirt hitting his back. Shake it off and step
up...Shake it
off and step up...Shake it off and step up. The mule repeated this
statement over and over to encourage himself no matter how painful
the blows or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought
panic and just kept on shaking it off and stepping up.
It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped
over the wall of the well. What had seemed would bury him
actually
saved him 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 often have within them the
very real potential to benefit us.
Remember,
Amateurs built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.
