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A reason to be glad
Is it possible to maintain joy when problems or physical pain demand all our attention?
There's a story about a farmer's donkey that fell down into an old, dry well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided that since the well was dry and should be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. So he invited his neighbors to come over and help him fill the well.
They all grabbed shovels and began to throw dirt into the hole. At first, the donkey cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, it quieted down.
About the author
Mark Swinney and his wife, Reneé, live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have two children, Erin and Ryan.

April 15, 2002 issue
View Issue-
A pipeline to happiness
Bettie Gray
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YOUR LETTERS
with contributions from Manfred Krueger, Sandra Norris, Susan Rynerson, Mary H. Reed, Claire Louise Wilmot, Elena Brady
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items of interest
with contributions from Barbara Stahura, Dan Schaeffer, Robert Sapolsky, Warren Bolon, Ellie Pierce
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JOY that can't be stolen away
By Dorothy Estes
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A reason to be glad
By Mark Swinney
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HAPPINESS that comes with a GUARANTEE
By Margaret Rogers
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step by step OUT OF DEPRESSION
By Cynthia Tyler
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'Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing ...'
with contributions from Anne Early, Katherine Hildreth
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In Pristina, a green vase sings from a table left standing
By Warren Bolon
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The Sentinel asks... 'What brings lasting happiness?'
with contributions from Erin Callahan, Beckie Myers, Suzanne M. Cowin, Tony Goncalves, David Stevens, Matthew Bouchard, Liz Orr, Barbara Gritten, Suzanne Sinclair
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A Church less rigid
By Kim Shippey Sentinel staff
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–––– 100 years ago
Sentinel staff
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Prayer alone heals serious dog bite
Genevieve E. Eckhardt
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Severe burn quickly healed
Gladys A. de Pombo
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Family relationship sweetened through prayer
Judy Findley
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Happiness that lasts
Kay Olson