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 neighbours 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 neighbours 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!
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 are stepping stones.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it
off, and take a step up.
