THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Sunday 25th May 2025
Lessons from a Donkey
One day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried loudly for hours, while the farmer tried to find something to use to get him out.
Finally, the farmer decided that the donkey was old and the well was already dry and needed to be covered anyway; that it really wasn't worth pulling the donkey out of the well!!!!!
(What?)
He invited all his neighbors to come help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to throw dirt into the well.
(NO! Take a stand. Always speak up at the injustice.)
The donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly loud. Then, to everyone's surprise, he quieted down after a few shovelfuls of dirt.
(Where there is a problem, there is a solution!)
The farmer finally looked down into the well and was amazed at what he saw... with each shovelful of dirt, the donkey was doing something incredible: It was shaking off the dirt and stepping on top of the dirt.
(Never underestimate grit, determination and resilience!)
Very soon everyone was surprised how the donkey reached the mouth of the well, went over the edge and trotted out...
(My kind of donkey!)
Life is going to throw dirt at you, all kinds of dirt... the trick to getting out of the hole is to shake it off and use it to step up and step out!
Each of our problems is a step up. We can get out of the deepest holes if we don't give up...
Use whatever they throw at you to get your feet back on the ground!!!
~ Jim Gentil
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
~ Ephesians 6:13
Extracted from Spiritual Thoughts Maritta Terrell
Thought for the Week - Jacquie Peal.
22 May 2025
Gosh! What a morning!
We started, as we so often do, at Chantry Post car park from where we set off to walk around by Lee Farm on a very beautiful, sunny morning, with the Downs coated in fresh golden-green and the sea, almost unseen but ever-present in the distance.
Almost deafened by the larks, the first thing that happened was that, once again, we heard the Curlew calling, somewhere in the valley below - the second year running we have heard them.
The next thing was that we suddenly realised that the large white bird flying and perching away to our right wasn't a seagull but was a Barn Owl! We stood and watched it for 10 entrancing minutes, before moving on towards the farm below, with kites, buzzards, all the usual hedgerow birds, including a Corn Bunting, and even a Raven accompanying us.
Tikki, avid sniffer that she is, apparently, identified many small, unseen mammals in the hedge and, later on we spent around 20 minutes watching in awe and wonder as nine (nine!!) beautiful hares ran around in the field below us.
Finally, as we came back along the South Downs Way, we saw a Kestrel, our one missing bird of prey, hanging over the car park.
What an amazing morning!
What a joy and a privilege to live in a place where our wildlife is cared for alongside regular, profit-making farming practices.
"God gave all men all earth to love but since our hearts are small, ordained for each one spot should prove beloved over all.
Each to his choice, and I rejoice The lot has fallen to me in a fair ground In a fair ground, in a fair ground, Yea, Sussex by the sea"
(Rudyard Kipling)
Thank you, dear Father, for the beauty of the earth.
With love
Jacquie xx
Charles Hadley.It could be a proverb, a Bible text, an anecdote, a snippet of good news…Max length 75 words.