Parable of the Mule
A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the 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 dirt hit his back… a thought struck the old mule. 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. He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation the old mule fought “panic” and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
You’re right! It was not 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… 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 that 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!
© 2010, By His Grace Church. All rights reserved.
2 Responses to “Parable of the Mule”
Just to say how much I have been blessed by the parable of the Old Mule. It is very powerful and has a practical example of how we should be while faced with any kind of challenge while in our Christian Journey. It has come to me at a time when issues with my neighbors had become rather overwhelming. We had a drainage blockage in our neighborhood and for some reason, (probably because we are the only black family), we were accused of causing the blockage. We did not even know about it, until someone sent to us a message that was emailed to so many people, about how we are causing distress to the neighbors by blocking the drainage system. We became very unhappy when we learned about this unwarranted accusation. We felt being discriminated especially when this problem was attributed to “A cultural problem” hence the campaign mounted upon us. By God’s grace we have managed to “shake it off and step up”. My prayer is that we will get to the surface without having a sense of being dispirited, for God is our help, strength and hope in all the circumstances that we face in life.
Color is so surface, do you not cut me and I bleed, we all bleed the same, we are hurt and wounded by others. Thanks be to God that we were all created IN HIS Image. We are his children and should not bicker and fight.
Some days Duncan it may take alot of love to turn the other cheek. To live as a Christian. It is not the title it is how we act. The Book of James may be a comfort.
Gods Blessing and Peace to you and your home.
May you continue to prosper in the Light of the Lord.
Pastor Grace