One day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Moral of the story
Life is going to shovel piles of dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to get out of the well is to shake off the dirt and take a step upward. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest well just by not stopping, never giving up. Just like the donkey, shake that dirt off and take a step up.
Remember these five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred. Forgive and remember God’s unconditional love for you and all of us.
2. Free your mind from worries. Most never happen. God is in control of everything. Let Him do it.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less I can’t remember who said “the happiest people on earth are those who do not have the best of everything but were able to make the best of everything whatever came along their way.”
