SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP

One of my favorite phrases comes from one of the greatest military men of our times, General George S. Patton Jr.

In quoting Frederick The Great, Patton often used the phrase, "L'audas, L'audas, Toujour L''audas.  Which liberally translated means audacity, audacity, always audacity.

He was referring of course to his belief that to win any battle you must attack, attack, always attack, never be on the defensive. I think he copied this from the infamous Nathan Bedford Forrest.

Another of Patton's favorite down home sayings was "Never give up." Even when the odds are a thousand to one against you, never give up." Maybe he got this for Davy Crockett too.

Which reminds me of the folk story of a farmer who owned a very old mule that was one step from the grave. I think it goes something like this:

One day, the old mule fell into the farmer’s well, which had dried up years earlier. The farmer heard the mule braying, or whatever it is that mules do when they fall into wells.

After very carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the old mule, but finally decided that neither the worn out mule nor the dry well was worth saving.

He called his neighbors together and explained to them what had happened, and asked for their help to haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Subsequently, he would be able to get rid of a mule that was past due to die, and he would fill in the old well that was a danger to other farm animals.

When the dirt started falling, the old mule was almost hysterical!  However, as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a brilliant thought occurred to him.

It suddenly dawned on the old mule that each time a shovel full of dirt landed on his back, he should shake it off and step up.  This he did, shovel after shovel.

"Shake it off and step up… shake it off and step up… shake it off and step up," he repeated over and over to encourage himself.

No matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed at the time, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up!

As you have guessed, it wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped in triumph over the wall of the well.  What would appear to have buried him actually blessed him, all because of his audacity and the way in which he handled his adversity.

We can learn a lesson from this stubborn old mule.

Life is full of daily shovels of dirt, but if we face our problems and respond to them in a positive way and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness or self-pity, the adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the potential to bless us.

Remember that forgiveness, faith, praise and hope, are all excellent ways to "shake it off and step up" out of the daily wells in which we find ourselves.

I leave you with one of Oldwarrior’s favorite sayings: (Le plus sages ne le sont pas toujours.)