I’ve always loved stories with a moral – parables like Jesus told and those of philosophical folks who have experienced life to the max. Today is “Never Give Up,” day. This little story is filled with great motivation for those of us who daily face obstacles requiring perseverance.

The story is about a donkey who fell into a well. His owner felt the donkey wasn’t worth saving and since he planned to close up the well anyway, he decided to fill it with dirt while the donkey was struggling to get out. Most animal lovers at this point will be appalled, but aren’t we all susceptible to this kind of treatment every day?

With each shovel full of dirt, the donkey would shake it off and take a step up. The farmer even recruited his friends to pour on more dirt, but the persistent donkey continued to shake it off and step up. Eventually he climbed out of the well, because he had built his own way out.

The moral is obvious. As we go through this muddy life there will be problems. It will seem like we’ll never be able to dig our way out. If we just let the dirt fall on us, we will soon become buried in it. We’ll suffocate and die. If we desire to live, we try to think our way out.

Trying to dig ourselves out of a pit of despair is physically and mentally difficult, but God gives us the means to overcome the world. It is by His hands alone that the future has been carved. He knows what lies ahead and He has a plan for everything that happens in our lives. Trusting in His unfailing grace, we can shake it off and step up.