Wednesday, October 3, 2012

October 4, 2012

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 So 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 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. 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 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 stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!
That's perseverence - "hupomone" - "enduring until you conquer the bad with good"
 
Here are a couple of verses that express this idea:
 
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Galatians 6:9

Woody Allen has said, "Eighty percent of life is showing up."

That is the point of this virtue called "perseverence" - show up and come to stay and come in faith and expect God's power to meet you there until He turns the pain into gain! The same God that turned the tragedy of the crucifixion into the triumph of the resurrection will do the same for you if you endure!

What's the next right thing you need to do?