Monday, November 10, 2014

A Lesson In Overcoming Adversity


There was a man who owned an old hound. The hound fell into a large hole that he simply could not get out of. The man heard the hound barking and after assessing the situation, the man felt sorry for the hound, but decided that due to the risks, the hound could not be saved. 

Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the hound in the hole and put him out of his misery.

Initially the hound was barking and yelping, but as the man and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, 
HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!

This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” barking to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old hound fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

It wasn't long before the old hound, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the edge of that hole! What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity.

Never let anything keep you down!

.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is gonna be me

Anonymous said...

I needed this today, thank you.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this as I know this is True as I'm not going to let anything keep me down and you should not as well. Great Post.

Anonymous said...

Sounds way too similar to the donkey in the well written many many years ago.

Anonymous said...

I get it ...but damn thats a harsh ass owner...just planning on burying the poor dog alive

Anonymous said...

Yea this story is the exact same as the donkey in the well and the owner filling up the well wit dirt and getting the neighbours to help then the donkey reached the top and walked on for himself. The only difference is that one is a donkey and the other a dog hahaha still I get the meaning of the story and it does make sense. Life is so hard with problems so ya either face your problems as hard as they are or you let the problems take control and let yourself be buried in them. Its a tough life with lots of hard decisions but its the only way to make us stronger and wiser in life xxx

Unknown said...

this is wonderful..its really encouraging ..keep it up.

Anonymous said...

every round go higher and higher..

Anonymous said...

What is Adviesity?

Anonymous said...

Adversity means problems, troubles, difficulties, misfortune etc. Basically hard and bad times

Anonymous said...

Ha, I just checked the spelling!!! I'm with you, what is adviesity?? LOL

Anonymous said...

Great story, and yes I remember hearing it about the donkey as well. Same meaning tho' and it's something I needed at this time!!

Anonymous said...

No matter how its spelled, we've all experienced adversity

Anonymous said...

nice one,this story came to me @ the right time,thnx lord

Anonymous said...

A good life lesson...thanks for sharing.

John_Betong said...

http://www.johns-jokes.com/The-Donkey-that-Fell-Down-the-Well.html

Final thoughts on the above link:

Enough of that crap . . .

The donkey later came back, and bit the shit out of the farmer who had
tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected, and the farmer
eventually died in agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

Anonymous said...

AND THAT IS SO TRUE - MOST OF THE TIME IT BITES US ALL IN THE ASS... ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE THE ONES ACTING LIKE AN ASS...

Anonymous said...

funny thing .... makes you think but I bet that guy wanted that hole filled .... out smarted his neighbors

Anonymous said...

Awesome story

Anonymous said...

Powerful sermon!!!

Anonymous said...

great post and great courage that old hound dog had.

Anonymous said...

There are some days harder than others. Like that dog I get to the top and try to stay there.

Anonymous said...

Yes this is going to be me.

Anonymous said...

You people are all sick. There is absolutely nothing positive or inspiring about this story, only abandonment and cruelty to a poor, defenseless animal that didn't deserve such a horrible fate. The only one with any sense is the man with the moral. Instead of giving up on the old hound, burying it alive, the dog's owner could just as easily have flooded the hole with water and floated his dog to the surface, or he could have filled the hole in with dirt, without harming it, by throwing it at the dog, or burying the poor old hound alive. Because of what he did to the hound, the man should have been thrown into the hole, himself, buried alive, so he'd know how it feels, and if I'd have been there, in person, would have been pleased to piss all over his grave, for being such a cruel, unfeeling, ignorant son of a bitch.

Unknown said...

I can identify with the old hound. Since, I grew up in the excavating and farming businesses. Other than the few years I volunteered for the Navy and got involved in nuclear power. I 've been "Going in a hole" somewhere.

Anonymous said...

I will be able to overcome anything that may try to keep me down. The story i just read, was about a man n his Hound. The hound fell in a large hole, but the man didn't want him to suffer, so he decided to bury the dog, to make him not suffer, so they started throwing dirt on the dog, but the more dirt they through, the more the dog shook off the dirt n kept steping up. The dog realized what he had to do to stay alive. The dirt was meant to bury him, but it saved his life.by the dirt getting higher. He never gave up!!

Christine said...

Today this hound taught me something I could not conceive
On my own. It took. All day for me to get this message because of my location and this was the first message I got. GOD IS GOOD.

Anonymous said...

Stepping stone or stumbling block it's up to you!

Anonymous said...

Yes, horrible!! But there's some truth to what animals teach us. They can survive such cruelty and still come out on top. That man did not treasure this faithful dog!:(

Anonymous said...

My daughter is fighting a serious battle and so needed this this morning... I am tagging it to her right now.... Thank you so Much...

Anonymous said...

This is telling you not to keep letting people shit on you,to rise above & stand Your ground.

Anonymous said...

I think it funny that there are so many ppl compared an ass and dog to problems of today if it was only that easy.

Anonymous said...

If BS were money the story teller would not need a job.

Anonymous said...

beautiful lesson on everyday living. each day, we're confronted with obstacles and tribulations. knowing how to cope with these problems is one of the ways to overcome them. there are solutions to every problems. have faith and pray, the Lord will show us the way.

Anonymous said...

God is in control. Keep on moving forward ~upward!

Anonymous said...

Yes God is in control and this is a good lesson on life just don't let life get you down

Unknown said...

Thats the way to walk in life

Anonymous said...

My thoughts exactly!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Life is as easy as you make it... Choices...

snuffles d bear said...

My thought, too. I hope that old dog shook off that owner and walked on by. Being a dog, though, he forgave him right away.

snuffles d bear said...

Exactly! I could not even get to the "moral", with the thought of that poor, devoted dog dying like that.

Anonymous said...

This is a good lesson for everyone. People can try to bury you but all they are doing is creating good favour for you out of their hatred.