I found a parable recently that probably applies to most of us at one time or another in our lives. Like so many things online, I was unable to locate the original author. Please feel free to make note if you know who it was.
Parables have always spoken to me. I especially like this one, because the ending is so unexpected. It reminds me to always keep my mind open for new possibilites.
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The Farmer and the Donkey
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One day a farmer’s donkey fell down 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 of 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 looked down the well, expecting the worst. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something incredible. 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. Soon, everyone was shocked as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
How about you? When have you been the donkey at the mercy of the Jack-Ass farmer? What are some ways you’ve overcome your troubles?
Feb 04, 2013 @ 02:31:58
Fun post, Denise. There are times in my life when I have been mistreated and I’ve taken it. But since I have had kids I stand up for myself because I have to stand up for the kids. Kind of a circuitous route to taking care of myself, I suppose, but I do get there eventually. 🙂
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Feb 04, 2013 @ 10:26:32
That seems to be the case for a lot of us moms… 😉
Glad you enjoyed it!
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Feb 03, 2013 @ 12:42:23
I love this, Denise. You always bring such thoughtful inspiration to us. Thank you.
Yes, the dirt of life. I’ve shoveled quite a bit on myself during my early, acting-out years. Wow. It’s amazing I didn’t bury myself alive.
Sometimes the dirt pours down and I have trouble breathing (like now, as the grief over losing my mom threatens to bury me). But amidst the downfall, I love the fact that God’s not in a hurry to shovel the dirt under my feet. He’s not impatient, like I am. And he isn’t at all surprised or worried about my circumstances. When I hold on to him and trust that he’ll turn the dirt into my step up, which is hard to do when my old habits of self reliance and pride creep back, then I don’t fear the dirt. I see it as part of his plan in my life.
And I know that with God, my step up isn’t just for me. It’s to share with others. And, thankfully, many, many other people, namely you, have risked their pride and shared their step up with me, helping me realize I’m not alone in my hole. That’s made all the difference in the world to my recovery.
Thanks for helping me be a better donkey. 🙂
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Feb 03, 2013 @ 13:10:13
Your story proves this parable’s truth, Lori. You have continued to step up with each shovel full.
I’m so glad you’ve decided to share your story with all of us and inspire us to keep shaking off our own dirt, too.
Hee Haw, you are a donkey princess! 😉
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Feb 02, 2013 @ 12:58:17
I’ve seen this before but needed to be reminded of it. Thanks, Denise. It’s great.
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Feb 02, 2013 @ 18:22:38
Glad you enjoyed it, Esther! Happy Continued Travels!
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Feb 01, 2013 @ 19:26:41
Personally, all of the challenges I face in my life today seem to me to be “high-quality problems,” in that the fact that I’m experiencing them reflects that I am moving toward the goal I am interested in (in my case, the main goal is releasing an online animated musical), and they make the process interesting and worth engaging in.
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Feb 02, 2013 @ 00:24:42
That’s such a great attitude, Chris!
When we allow ourselves to learn something from every situation, we’re always better off.
Thanks so much for sharing!
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Feb 01, 2013 @ 09:02:50
I’ve been both the donkey and the jack ass. What I do to shake it off if hang with my dogs. That usually does wonders. 🙂
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Feb 01, 2013 @ 12:40:01
😉
Dogs are definitely good medicine!!!
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Feb 01, 2013 @ 03:16:22
I’m a Jack-Ass, which is a nickname given to me by my coworker. He says there are three levels of an ass. Jack-Ass, Ass, and Asshole. a jack-ass is a positvie ass, an asshole is a negative ass, and an ass is somewhere in the middle.
Anyway, this post is radiating positive energy. I normally don’t talk like a stereo typical dalia lama, but your post was up lifting. It really speaks about being positive or not, it’s your choice. Love it. You just inspired me 2 ignite my day- KaBoom! It’s on, now.
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Feb 01, 2013 @ 04:45:43
Hey Brian!
That’s awesome – your co-worker is hilarious!
(though I think I’d still have a hard time calling you a Jack-Ass, despite the new definition!)
I’m so glad you ignited your day!!
Thanks for telling me! 😉
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 18:12:16
Now! I’m a donkey right now! And proud to be one (since reading your post)!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 19:40:43
You rock, Diane!!! Hee Haw!
😉
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 17:34:00
Keep stepping up! That is great advice. 🙂
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 18:10:08
Up, Up and Away!!!!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 17:02:36
I love this story and don’t remember where I first saw it, but it’s a great reminder that we can’t control what life throws at us but we can control what we do with it!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 18:09:46
Absolutely!
Thanks, Ruth!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 16:53:49
Love this. Life’s moments, good and bad, help us to become who were are today. My ex-husband is an abusive jackass. For years I walked on eggshells, never knowing what I would come home to. No one knew. I kept the abuse a secret. He was famous for not speaking to me if I had done something wrong. One day I told him that he was going to have to start talking to me. With a smirk he asked why and I told him that I had seen a lawyer and was filing for divorce. He left that night. It took me many years to heal from what he had done to me but he didn’t break me. I saved myself and my son. Thanks for sharing.
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 18:09:24
Kathy, you are such a strong woman, and a wonderful role model.
What a perfect story of using the dirt to rise above it all.
Thank you so much for sharing it.
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 16:51:50
Ha! I have had plenty of dirt and other stuff shoveled on me, but no way am I just gonna stand there. I’m shaking it off, baby! 🙂
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 18:08:01
Ha Ha!! I can actually picture you doing just that, Karen!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 15:07:35
So many shovels of dirt have weighed me down. Some of those shovels have been of my own making and some not. As long as I remember, “God’s will be done,” I’ll have the strength to rise above the dirt and live my life as God intended.
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 18:07:35
Hi Sheri,
That’s a good point…sometimes we toss dirt on ourselves, don’t we?
Thanks for adding a great perspective!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 13:36:12
That is awesome!!!! – I so am going to use that over and over!
Linda
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 18:06:49
🙂
It’s a good one to share!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 12:46:06
In love this, Denise. I don’t know who wrote it and it’s the first time I’ve heard it. Thanks for sharing 😉
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 18:06:26
Hi Dianne!
It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 10:30:50
It sounds like Aesop to me. Great words to live by.
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 10:38:26
Hey Robin! I looked up Aesop, but didn’t find this story attributed to him.
It does sound like him, though -I agree!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 10:25:42
Have seen this one before, and was so glad to read it again; so true!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 10:36:04
Glad you enjoyed this 😉
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 09:18:41
This made me laugh Denise!!! Thanks for the timely reminder that we are never defeated!!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 10:35:50
Hi Dixie! It made me laugh, too!
😉
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 08:44:23
I never tire of reading this. Love it!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 09:07:01
Hi Gerri! 😉
This was my first time to read it – glad you enjoyed it…again!
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 05:49:28
love this and so many of us can relate–I talked about mine yesterday in my blog–so today I am going to take the stuff shoveled out by others and use it as a stepping stone – thanks for this
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Jan 31, 2013 @ 06:07:12
Thanks, LouAnn! Your idea for yesterday’s blog is really great!
😉
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