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Author Unknown

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. It just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all 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 became quiet. A few shovel loads later, the farmer 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. The farmer’s neighbours continued to shovel dirt but each time the donkey would shake it off and take another step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The Devil wants to bury us in self pity and bitterness; he wants us to give up but God wants us to use every trial as a stepping stone to higher ground. We can get out of the deepest wells by seeing each trial as a test allowed by God for our good and for His glory.

When the donkey returned he found the dirt had filled the well and he never fell into it again.

If we learn from our experience we won’t fall into the same trap twice.