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 since the animal was old,
and the well needed to be covered up anyway,
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

So, the farmer invited all his neighbors to
come over and help him.
They all grabbed shovels,
and began to shovel dirt into the well.

All the other farm animals were very upset about this,
because the donkey was their friend.
But they discovered there was nothing
they could do to help him.

At first, when the donkey realized what was happening,
he cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement,
he quieted down.

All the other farm animals were very upset about this,
because the donkey was their friend.
But they discovered there was nothing
they could do to help him

A few shovel loads later,
the farmer finally looked down the well,
and was astonished at what he saw.

With every shovel of dirt that hit his back,
the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off, and take a step up on the dirt
as it piled 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 trotted off!

MORAL: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
But each trouble can be a stepping stone.
What happens to you isn't nearly as important as how you react to it.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not giving up!

Shake it off, and take a step up!