A number of frogs were traveling through the woods. Two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. They saw how deep the pit was; they told the two at the bottom that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The frogs on top kept telling them to give up and stop, that there was no way they could make it and they were as good as dead.

Eventually one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die.

He jumped even harder and finding better footing finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “How could you manage that? I guess we were wrong.”

 The frog explained to them that he was hard of hearing. He thought that they were encouraging him the entire time.

The lesson: There is the 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. A destructive word to someone who is down can be the push over the edge. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

 Anyone can speak words that can rob another of the spirit to push forward in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

FROG – Fully Rely On God