Handling adversity in life

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 the wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble saving. Instead, the called his neighbours together and told them what had happened. He enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the mule in the well and put of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical. ( Wouldn't you be with dirt being flung on you?) But as the farmer and his neighbours continued shoveling and the dirt on his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time the 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 , the old 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 could have buried him blessed him- all because of the manner in which he handled the adversity.


By Mikey's Funnies