I use to spend summer time
wading in the
neighbors pond
out in the field across the road from my home, looking for
tadpoles, catching them and
watching them turn into frogs.
Sadly, that pond has dried up since my childhood...
But as a young child-
I was thrilled when I could
find frog
eggs...so I could watch
the process from egg to tad
pole to
frog..
so when I first saw this story, it did bring back fond
memories for me of my 'study' of frogs....
"A group of frogs were hopping contentedly through the woods, going about their froggy business, when two of them fell into a deep pit. The other frogs gathered around the pit to see what could be done to help their companions. When they saw how deep the pit was, the rest of the dismayed group agreed that it was hopeless and told the two unfortunate frogs in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their fate, because they were as good as dead.
Unwilling to accept this terrible fate, the two frogs tried with all of their might to jump out of the pit. The other frogs shouted into the pit that it was hopeless, and that they wouldn’t be in that situation if they had been more careful, more obedient to the froggy rules, and more responsible. They continued shouting that they should save their energy and give up, since they were already as good as dead.
But the two frogs continued jumping as hard as they could and became quite weary. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to the calls of his fellows. Spent and disheartened, he quietly resolved himself to his fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, and died as the others looked on in helpless grief.
The other frog continued to jump with every ounce of energy he had, although his body was wracked with pain and he was completely exhausted. Once again, the crowd of frogs started yelling for him to accept his fate, stop the pain and just die. The weary frog jumped harder and harder and—wonder of wonders—finally leapt so high that he sprang from the pit. Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his miraculous freedom and then, gathering around him asked, “Why did you continue jumping when we told you it was impossible?”
Reading their lips, the astonished frog explained to them that he was deaf, and that when he saw their gestures and shouting, he thought they were cheering him on. What he had perceived as encouragement inspired him to try harder and to succeed against all odds.
This story teaches two lessons:
1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. (what does GOD's word say about our tongue?)
2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.
(and was as a young mother-)
I needed to discipline my children for their wrongs-for not following rules that are set up for their protection, because you can get into serious trouble if you do not obey the rules, it can even cause death-
But I also needed to encourage them, not just 'yell' when they did things wrong-but educate and encourage them to learn from their mistakes, and move on...not give up.
We are their cheering section in life!
A parents job is to guide them, help them learn from the small mistakes in life so as an adult when they encounter larger decisions on the path of life--decisions that if the wrong decision is made--it could have life threatening results.
I want to trust that they will make the correct decision...
