There was a farmer who had an old donkey. The donkey fell into a deep dry well and began to cry loudly. Hearing his donkey cry, the farmer came over and assessed the situation. The well was deep and the donkey was heavy. He knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to lift the animal out.
Because the donkey was old and the well was dry, the farmer decided to bury the animal in the well. In this way he could solve two problems: put the old donkey out of his misery and have his well filled. He called upon his neighbours to help him and they agreed to help. To work they went. Shovel full of dirt after shovel full of dirt began to fall on the donkey’s back. He became hysterical.
The donkey then realised he had a choice. He could sit there and accept what was happening to him, or he could do something about it. So, each time they would throw a shovel full of dirt on his back he could shake it off and step up. Shovel full after shovel full, the donkey would shake it off and step up. Eventually, exhausted and dirty but quite alive, the donkey stepped over the top of the well and walked proudly through the gathered crowd.
From the Urban Lighthouse blog.