The Teaching of the Donkey

One day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried loudly for hours, while the farmer tried to find something to do to get him out.

Finally, the farmer decided that the donkey was old and the well was already dry and needed to be covered anyway; that it really wasn't worth pulling the donkey out of the well.

He invited all his neighbors to come to help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to throw dirt into the well.

The donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly loud. Then, to everyone's surprise, he quieted down after a few shovelfuls of dirt.

The farmer finally looked down into the well and was amazed at what he saw... with each shovelful of dirt, the donkey was doing something incredible: It was shaking off the dirt and stepping on top of the dirt.

Very soon everyone saw, surprisingly, how the donkey reached the mouth of the well, went over the edge, and trotted out...

Life is going to throw dirt at you, all kinds of dirt. Use the dirt that is thrown at you to get ahead. Shake it off and use it to step up. Each of our problems is a step up. We can get out of the deepest holes if we don't give up...

- Credit to the Owner

Or maybe the dirt can be put together to create something new..