Assorted Pearls
"What's money? A man is a success if
he gets up in the morning
and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to
do."
-Bob Dylan {American Folk-Rock Singer}
"It takes one a long time to become young" - Pablo Picasso
"I don't let my mouth say nothing my head can't stand " - Louis Armstrong
SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP
A parable is told of a farmer who owned
an old mule. The mule fell into
thefarmer'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 could 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! It was not long before the old mule, battered
and
exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well. What
seemed
like 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 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!
One more thing... Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember, amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic
"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." - Martin Luther
"Winners got scars too" - Johnny Cash