The story is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. One day, the mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' - or whatever mules do when they fall into wells - and, after carefully assessing the situation, he decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving. Instead, he called his neighbours together and told them what had happened and asked them to help carry soil to the well, to bury the old mule and put him out of his misery.
Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But, as the farmer and his neighbours continued shovelling and the soil hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovelful of soil landed on his back, he should shake it off and step up! So this is what he did, shovelful after shovelful; 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 guessed it! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What had seemed as if it would bury him, actually end up blessing him. All because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
Of course, in addition to "shaking it off and step up," disciples of Jesus have a wonderful heavenly Father to help get us through tough times. When the going gets tough, keep looking up, and trusting Him.
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