Shake It Off And Step Up
Submitted by Dick Smith
Something to think about......
I don’t know who the author was, but the following
item expresses a guideline for those persons who become discouraged with
the way that things might be going. Coaches, players, referee candidates,
and others who feel the rug slipping might take note.
— Dick Smith
Shake It Off And Step Up
A parable is told of a farmer who owned an
old mule. One day the old mule fell into the farmer's well and the farmer
heard the mule “braying” - or-whatever mules do when they fall into a well.
After carefully assessing the situation, the
farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor
the well was worth the trouble to save. Instead, he called his neighbors
together and told them what had happened and enlisted their help to haul
dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.
Initially, the old mule was hysterical with
the dirt being shoveled onto his back. But as the farmer and his neighbors
continued shoveling and the dirt hit the mule’s back, a thought struck
the mule.
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.
In order to encourage himself, he kept repeating
“shake it off and step up . . . shake it off and step up . . . Shake it
off and step up!” No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the
situation seemed, the 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 the well!
While it seemed like the dirt would only bury
him, it actually blessed him . . . all because of the manner in which he
handled his adversity. It is the same with LIFE! If we face our problems
and respond to them positively, and refuse to give into panic, bitternes,
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...are all excellent ways to “shake it off
and step up”, out of the wells of despair in which we find ourselves.
— The End
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