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 trying to retrieve the donkey. He invited all of his
neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a spade and began to shovel dirt into the
well. At first, the donkey realised what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s
amazement, he quietened 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, when 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 by not stopping, and never giving up!
Shake it off, and take a step up!