THE MULE STORY

The
MULE
STORY
Overcoming
ADVERSITY

Very few of us 'get through' this lifetime
without struggles - without facing adversity.

What is SO important to our future survival - our
triumph - our success is - how we HANDLE these setback ---------------------------------------------------------

A parable is told of a farmer who owned a mule. One day, the mule accidently fell into the farmer's well. The animal cried piteously for hours, as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
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 in his neighbors and told them w hat had happened - then, enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the mule alive, in the well - to put him out of his misery.
Initially, the mule was hysterical - he knew his life would soon be over!
Then, amazingly, as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling, and the dirt struck his back, and he shook in pain - out of nowhere, a thought struck him.
It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel lo ad of dirt landed on his back - HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF - AND STEP UP on top of the growing pile of dirt beneath him!
This he did - blow after blow after hurtful blow -- "Shake it off and step up! -
shake it off and step up! - shake it off and step up!" he repeated - over and over again - to keep encouraging himself. It was brutal.
His courage gradually overcame his tears of shock and despair.
No matter how painful those blows - or how hopeless the situation seemed - that mule fought off the "panic" and just kept right on - SHAKING IT OFF - AND STEPPING UP!
You're right! It wasn't long before the mule - batt ered, bruised, bloodied, and totally exhausted - STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL - and then, he trotted off - with his pride and his dignity in tack!
What seemed like it would bury him [alive] - actually ended up blessing him - all because of the manner in which he HANDLED his terrifying ordeal.
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What a "life lesson" for US - because ADVERSITIES are part of life!
Adversities cannot be controlled. BUT - what we can control is how we REACT to them -- our ATTITUDE.
If we face OUR problems - and respond to them positively - and refuse to give in - to fear - to panic - to bitterness - to self-pity -- the adversities that come along to BURY us - will most often have within them, the potential to not only benefit us, but BLESS us too. It is THIS that will move us forward beyond ANY challenge.
FORGIVENESS - FAITH - PRAYER - PRAISE and HOPE -- all are excellent
ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" and out of the wells in which we may
find OURselves. _ _ _ _ And always, always, always remember - - -

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WE know who we are - it does not “matter” what others may think of us!
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Life IS going to shovel dirt on us - all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of OUR well - is to 'shake it off and take a step up'. Each of our troubles can become a "stepping stone" to the other side..
We can get out of the deepest wells just by - not stopping - never giving up - shaking it off - taking a step `upward' - keeping busy and productive.
We need to - free our hearts from hatred - free our minds from worry - live simply - give more - and above all - count our BLESSINGS - count our BLESSINGS. –
"Every adversity, every failure, every hearta che - carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." - [Napoleon Hill]
-- "Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you." - [Jeffrey Gitomer]
-- "Adversity precedes growth." - [Rosemarie Rossett]
-- "Show me someone who has done something worthwhi le - I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity." - [Lou Holtz]
-- "There is no better way than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time." - [Og Mandino]

We CAN overcome adversity.
It will be a critical “stepping stone” to
SUCCESS, PROSPERITY and ABUNDANCE!