Re: good advice

[Guest guest]

I got this over the internet. As we are all caught up in this rollercoaster of

RLS, I thought this is something we can all learn from to help put things in

perspective.

> > Subject: Shake it off and Step Up!

> >

> >

> > 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 wells. After carefully

> > assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but

> > decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of

> > saving. Instead, he called his neighbors 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 old mule was 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 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 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.

> >

> > 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 USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE

> > POTENTIAL TO 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!