My mom sent this to me today... she always sends gems.... <P><B>SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!</B><P>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.<P>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.<P>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.<P>"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up." The old mule repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing 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.<P>What seemed like it would bury him, actually helped him, all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. That's life.<P>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.<P>Remember, amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.

Very nice, uplifting, and thought provoking.<P>Thank you.

Hey Butterfly,<BR> I printed this one!! It definitely caught my eye since I have the sweetest old molly, and it really hits home.<P>------------------<BR>It's the mended oyster that turns the pain into a pearl.

Thanks!<P>Great way to start off the day!<P>Mike

Wow! What a kick I needed! Might help me get through the next couple weeks easier. I printed and hung on my fridge to read daily. Have anymore?

That is a great story. If I were going to change anything about it, I'd add a part about what happens to the mule when he gets out of the well....<P><BR>Once the tired, exhausted mule was safely out of the well, he realized that his owner never cared about him enough to: <BR>a) protect him by putting some kind of cover over the well in the first place.<BR>b) even THINKING of burying him alive in a well.<P>After he was able to recover enough of his strength, he left that stupid farmer, and walked on over to one of the neighbor's farms. The one neighbor who refused to participate in his "burial", who kept a happy, safe environment for all his animals, and who would never, ever kill him or let him die all alone, betrayed, and abandoned in a well. The end. <P>OR, how 'bout this?<P>....When the farmer saw his poor, bedraggled mule pull himself out of the well, he was suddenly overcome with remorse for what he had tried to do. He fell to the ground, in tears, and begged the mule to forgive him. The mule was a little skeptical, after all he'd been through. However, the farmer made good on his promise. He filled in the well, to make sure the mule would never be in danger of falling into it again. He then scoured his farm, in search of any other things that might endanger his animals. The farmer's place, in time, became a model of loving care for all the animals and a refuge for other animals who had been abandoned or abused. The other neighbors who had originally tried to help bury the mule copied the techniques taught by the old farmer, and the community learned that, even mules deserve love, respect, and dignity.<P>OR...<BR>When the mule left the old farmer to live at the other neighbor's farm, he was overcome with anger and bitterness. How dare that mule leave him!! The farmer never did fill in that well. He was too lazy. <P>One day, he was strolling across his farm, and came across that forgotten well. He hurt his arm, and so was not able to pull himself out. He screamed and yelled, but noone came to help him. The neighbors who had helped him try to bury the mule heard his cries, but didn't come to help, just figuring that another mule had fallen into the well. When he realized that noone was coming to help him, he remembered that old mule. In the farmer's last breath, he remembered what he had tried to do to his mule, and finally understood what his mule went through. He silently asked God and the mule, wherever he was, for forgiveness, and then died. He died cold and alone in the well, but with a greater understanding of his cruelty. <p>[This message has been edited by TheStudent (edited October 18, 2000).]

Student, <BR>Good endings... I thought of one...<P>The mule, upon regaining his strenght, kicked the old farmer in the butt and moved on... found a new farm with a loving caring farmer who appreciated and charished the gift of a wonderful mule who helped and shared the workload of the farm, and they lived happilly ever after! <P><BR>I'm glad everyone enjoyed this... I will look for more in my old "Mom Mail" file and post them.<P>Have a great day all! <BR>B<P>------------------<BR>There are deep sorrows and killing cares in life, but the encouragement and love of friends were given us to make all difficulties bearable. <BR>-- John Oliver Holmes<P>The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.<BR>-- Elie Wiesel<P><BR>

Here's one... it's not quite the same, but it makes you think.<P><B>HOW DO YOU LIVE YOUR DASH?</B><P>I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone. From the beginning... to the end.<P>He noted that first came her date of birth. And spoke the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.<BR>(1934 -1998)<P>For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth... And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.<P>For it matters not, how much we own; The cars...the house...the cash, What matters is how we live and love. <P>So think about this long and hard...<BR>Are there things you'd like to change?<P>For you never know how much time is left, That can still be rearranged.<P>If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel.<BR>And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before. If we treat each other with respect, And more often wear a smile.<P>Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.<P>So, when your eulogy's being read with your life's actions to rehash...<BR>Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?<P>Author Unknown<P><BR>