Thought for the Day 8/6/2021

 Friday Tale - Just Shake the Dirt off your Back 

One morning a cactus farmer down in Baja California noticed his faithful old donkey had wandered off. It was very unusual for the donkey not to show up for breakfast. So, after feeding the chickens, the farmer went out to see what had happened to his old friend. As he went out across the field, he thought he heard the donkey braying. However, it sounded as though it was coming from very, very far away.

    The farmer went to the source of the sound, and fell to his knees in dismay. His beloved old donkey had fallen through some rotten boards down into a long-abandoned well shaft.

    The donkey cried out to him desperately. But it seemed clear there would be no way to get him out of the deep well shaft.

    Finally, the farmer sadly decided that the old donkey was truly beyond saving. In addition, certainly the well shaft needed to be filled, for the safety of the nearby children.

    So the farmer asked three neighbor men to come help. The four men gathered around the old well shaft, and began to shovel dirt into the deep hole.

    Far from stupid, the old donkey immediately realized what was happening. He began to wail desperately. Then, after only a few minutes of shoveling, the donkey suddenly became deathly quiet.

    After about 20 of minutes of shoveling, the men stopped so the farmer could check their progress. But when he peered down the well shaft, what he saw truly astounded him.

    As every shovel-full of dirt hit its back, the old donkey had apparently just shaken it off, and stepped up onto the new layer of dirt.

    Then after another half hour of shoveling, much to their joy, the donkey lurched right up over the edge of the well shaft and just trotted off.

    You already know that life (and sometimes even your best pals) will sometimes "throw some dirt" on your hopes and dreams.

    So, here is something to remember: 

If someone throws dirt on your back, just shake it off and take a step up!

    Moreover, do protect your dreams from anyone who encourages you to be *realistic.* Your dreams belong to YOU.

~ Jim Gentil

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction,
out of the miry clay,
and He set my feet upon a rock
making my footsteps firm.
~ Psalm 40:2