OVERCOMING

Once upon a time a farmer owned an old mule that tripped & fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' & was unable to figure out how to bring up the old animal.

It grieved him that he could not pull the animal out - he'd been a good worker around the farm & though the farmer sympathized with the mule, he called his neighbors together & told them what had happened...& had them help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well & quietly put him out of his misery.

At first, the old mule was puzzled, but as the farmer & his neighbors continued shoveling & the dirt hit his back, he had a thought. He ought to shake off the dirt & step up. And he did just that. "Shake it off & step up...shake it off & step up...shake it off & step up!"

Even though he took painful blows of dirt & fought panic, he just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF & STEPPING UP! It wasn't long before the old mule, stepped up & over the lip of that well. What could have buried him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. (tripod.com)

Jas 1:2-4 (GNB) My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.