Mules in the Well

shared by Tammy Swett, Raymore, MO, by an unknown author

Reprinted from the January 2000 Issue

A parable is told of an old mule that fell into a 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! No matter how painful the blows or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought against 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 that well! What seemed like it would bury him actually blessed him because of how he faced his adversity.

The things that come along, seemingly with the potential to bury us, often possess the ability to bless us if we have the courage and faith to stand up to them.