The Donkey and the Farmer: What are you shoveling?

Monday, July 28, 2008

The Donkey and The Farmer: What are you shoveling?


One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all of his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off! (Author Unknown)

Recently I learned that a couple of people I know have been shoveling a stinky pile of dirt at me, on me and my family, and at anyone who may know us. Dirt based upon half-truths, one side of a story, manipulation, and a divisive evil spirit coming from persons that are afraid and insecure. This was very upsetting to me and I wanted to "get back" at them. But then I remembered that vengeance is God's…not mine. God has a plan for me and my family. I will continue to be me and continue to live my life for the Lord. I won't be perfect…and I will make mistakes. (I have made mistakes and I am on a mission to set them right.)

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping and never giving up!

Friends, shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules for a happy life:

1) Free your heart from hatred – forgive.

2) Free your mind from worries – most never happen.

3) Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4) Give more.

5) Expect less.

Now, the real ending for the donkey story goes like this… The donkey later came back and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock. The moral: When you do something wrong and try to cover you're a@@, it always comes back to bite you.

There's some truth there too!

Blessings!