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!
~
OTH
ER`S 
ATC
H ~
he
never closed her eyes in sleep 'til we were all
in bed.
On party nights 'til we came home she
often sat and read.
We little tho't about it then, when we were young and gay,
How much our Mother worried when we
children were away.
We only knew she never
slept when we were out at night.
And that she waited just to know we'd all come home all
right.
Why sometimes when we'd stay away 'til one or two or three,
It seemed to us that Mother heard the turning of the key.
For always when we'd step inside she'd call and we'd reply.
But we were all too young back then to understand just why.
Until the last one had returned she always kept a light,
For Mother couldn't sleep until she kissed us all goodnight.
She had to fear the world might harm the ones she loved the best.
More than once we heard her say when we stole her rest,
"When you are grown to women and men
perhaps I'll sleep the whole night thru.
Things might be different then."
And so it seemed that night and day we had a
Mother's care.
That always when we got back home, we'd find her waiting there.
Then came the night that we were gathered together 'round her bed.
"The children all are with you now" the kindly doctor said.
In her eyes there gleamed again that old time
tender light...
That told she had been waiting, just to know we were all right...
~WORDS FROM THE HEART~
~ 
ON`
T 
E
NGR
Y ~
I`ve heard it said don`t go to bed
while
hanging onto sorrow,
You may not have the
chance to laugh
With those you love
tomorrow.
You may
not mean the words you speak,
When anger
takes it`s toll...
You may regret your actions
once
You`ve lost your self-control.
When
you`ve lost your temper,
And you`ve said some hurtful things,
Just think about the
heartache
That your action sometimes
brings.
You`ll
never get those moments back,
Such precious
time to waste...
And all because of things you said
In anger and in haste.
So if
you`re loving someone,
And your pride has
settled in,
You may not ever have the
chance
To say to them again...
"I love you and I miss you,
And although we
don`t agree...
I`ll try to see your point of
view,
Please do the same for me.
Poem
Created By-
Cherilynn`s Words From the
Heart...
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