The Donkey In the Well

I found this story on face book and just loved it.  It was a wonderful comparison to the dirt we have to  put up with in life.  The only way to the Celestial Kingdom is up.  And the only way up is to rise above all the dirt thrown on top of us.  It made me feel better.   Very good FHE lesson.

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 anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors 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 quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step 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 happily trotted off!

MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less from people but more from God.

Here are a few ways to look at the story.

If you want the farmer to represent our Heavenly Father (You'll need to change the story a little bit)      I would have the farmer realize that the only way the donkey could get to the top was to throw the dirt down the well so that the donkey could step on top of it, eventually rising to the top.  Heavenly Father is not trying to be cruel or unkind.  He just knows it's the only way for us to make it back to live with him again.  

But you could have the Farmer represent the world too.  
Once the world/Satan has done everything it can to use you, or break your desire to follow the Savior. The World/Satan will abandon you along with the promises and lies it/he told you and will then try to destroy you.  But we can still rise above the dirt that is thrown our way and be successful and happy.  The world/Satan will have no power over you unless you let it.

Happiness is a choice!