Have you heard the story of the old farmer whose mule fell into a well?  Since there was no way to get him out the farmer decided to bury him there.  But the mule had a different idea.  Initially when the shovels of dirt began landing on him he became hysterical.  Then this thought struck him: "just shake it off and step on it."  So he did.  Hour after hour as the dirt fell on him he kept telling himself, "Just shake it off and stand on it."  No matter how much dirt they threw on him, he just kept shaking it off and stepping on it--until finally he stepped triumphantly out of the well. 

Life will either bless you or bury you; the difference lies in having the right attitude.  When they throw dirt on you, and they will, just shake it off and step on it.  Use it as fertilizer and grow stronger.  No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.  What's important is not what others say about you- it's what you say to yourself after they get through talking!

Jesus said, "Offenses will come," (Luke 17:1), so expect them.  People will take from you without giving back.  They will criticize you for simply rising above your beginnings. When you decide to seize the moment and move ahead, you'll leave others behind and some of them won't be too happy about it.  The only way to avoid that, is to do nothing and stay where you are.  And that's simply not acceptable--is it?