This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into
the farmer's well. The water wasn't very deep, so the mule could stand on
the bottom. The farmer heard the mule praying-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 of dirt hitting his back. "Shake it off and
step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up." repeated
to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressin 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. What seemed like it would bury
him, actually helped 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 very real potential to benefit us.
Never be afraid to try something new.