It’s been a little over 6 weeks since I opened the doors of my bridal boutique (Tarisai Tara 53 6th Street, Gweru, Zimbabwe). Everyday is has its drama, ups and downs and some days are better than others. A few days ago I was feeling a little down because we had all these bills coming in and no income and I bumped into this story and it changed my life…
This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old donkey. The donkey fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the donkey praying or whatever donkeys do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the donkey, but decided that neither the donkey nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old donkey in the well and put him out of his misery.
Initially the old donkey was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!
This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!”
He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old donkey fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
It wasn’t long before the old donkey, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What had seemed like it would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
A word from me to you:
Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.
If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity we will succeed!!!
“Act as if failure is impossible, and your success will be assured. Wipe out every thought of not achieving your objectives, whether they are material or spiritual. Be brave, and set no limits on the workings of your imagination. Never be a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future. You will never be the same.”
Till next time…Express yourself!!
