Shake it Off and Step Up

My mom shared this inspiring little story with me this week.  Perfect timing, Mom.  Just what Mr. H and I needed to hear! Though, after a quick Google search, I wonder if we're the only people on the planet who hadn't heard it before...  This goes right along with "Filling Our Sails" that I talked about last week.

The job market is still pretty dry out there. But, I'm happy to report that while we have no real solid leads, we have had 3 or 4 opportunities pop up in the last couple of days, thanks to Mr. H's networking skills. Keep us in your prayers and wish us luck!

 

SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP

This is a parable of a farmer who owned an old mule. The old mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer had heard the mule braying or praying or doing whatever a mule does when it is in trouble.

After carefully thinking about the situation and knowing that the well was as old as the mule, the farmer decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving. He called his neighbors over, told them what had happened and asked if they could help him shovel dirt into the well to bury the old mule and close up the well. They grabbed their shovels and went to work.

When the first shovels of dirt came down on top of the mule, he was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back … a thought struck the old mule...

Every time a load of dirt landed on his back, he could shake it off and step up!  This he did, blow by blow. “Shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up. The old mule repeated the words to himself to keep up his courage, "just shake it off and step up. .."

No matter how painful the dirt was as it hit his back or how tired he was, he just kept 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 helped 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 very adversity that comes along to bury us usually has within it the very real potential to benefit us. Never be afraid to try.