The Story of the Donkey and the Well ~ Shake it off, and stand on it!

After -for lack of a better word- a rather crummy day today my Dad reminded me a story that he once heard a preacher tell. The story is about a farmer, a donkey and a well.

One day a donkey fell into a deep well. As you can imagine, the donkey made enough noise that the farmer went to check on him and noticed what happened. Once the farmer realized the situation that he was facing, and knowing that there was no real way to get the donkey out, the farmer decided that the best idea would be to go ahead and fill the well with dirt. He called a few of his friends over, and shovel by shovel, they began filling the famer’s well with dirt. The donkey continued making noise for quite a while, even after they began to fill the hole, but eventually he was quiet. The farmer and his friends assumed what had happened to the donkey, so they looked down in to the well. To quite their surprise, the donkey was nearly nose to nose with them. You see, each time the farmers would toss dirt on the donkey; the donkey just shook the dirt off and took a step up. Eventually so much dirt had been tossed in the hole, the donkey was able to simply walk out of it.

The fact of the matter is that some days life is going to put you in a pit, and throw dirt on you.  But what I’ve discovered is that we can either choose to be buried alive in the “pits” we find ourselves in or we can make the choice to shake the dirt off and take a step up. Tonight I encourage you that when life throws dirt on you, that you make the choice to shake it off and stand on it. Rise above the crud that may come at you. Stand strong on the Word of God, and speak life to your situation.

I am so thankful for the people who speak life to me, but I’ve learned through the years, that sometimes the best thing you can do is to encourage yourself. Encourage yourself in the Lord. Let His joy be your strength. Allow His peace that passes all understanding to flood over you. And, most importantly, know that He has plans for your life that are far better than you can imagine.

 

Blessings, 

Hannah



PS - Listen to this song if you need to be encouraged this evening. :)
Encourage Yourself - Donald Lawrence

When Mother's Day Hurts, Let Jesus Hold You

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. A day that we celebrate the women in our lives who birthed us, cared for us as children, and have watched us bloom as adults. For so many though, Mother’s Day brings a bitter-sweet feeling. From the women who face the ugly monster of infertility, to those who have experienced infant or child loss, and others who have even lost their own mothers.

To those that can’t relate to anything in the previous sentence, today I ask you to cover those who can relate in prayer. To be there for the friend who may need a shoulder or a random text message reminding them of the wonderful person that they are.

To those who can relate, my heart aches for you. I’ve been in quiet prayer most of the day for you. I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe it’s because of how many people I know who are facing their first Mother’s Day without their mother, or my dear friends that have faced miscarriages this year, perhaps it’s even because of my endometriosis and the fear of infertility that it has planted within me. I’m honestly not sure why, but what I am sure of is that you are loved. You are loved by the Almighty. The Creator, who gives life, and takes it away. You are loved by the One who has a greater plan for your life than any of us could imagine.

Natalie Grant is one of my very favorite singers. She sings a song called Held. I’m sure most of you have heard the song. The song was written for a broken mother who lost her baby at only two months old. She walked in her bedroom one day, and realized that her baby was lying in his crib lifeless. I can not even imagine. Natalie’s song is relatable to so much more though. So many more stories.

The chorus goes, “This is what it means to be held. How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life, and you survive. This is what  is to be loved, and to know that the promise was when everything fell – you’d be held.” For those of you with an aching heart this Mother’s Day, let Jesus hold you. Yes, the sacred has been torn from your life, but YOU’VE SURVIVED!  His promises are true, and when it feels that your life is fallin apart, He won’t fail you.

To all of the Proverbs 31 women in my life (whether you are a mother or not), I pray you have a fabulous Mother’s Day! After all, isn’t Mother’s Day about celebrating the women in our life who are fabulous? Yes, yes, it is!

Blessings,

Hannah