One day. A group of frogs were hopping
contentedly through the woods,
going about their froggy
business, when two of them fell
into a deep pit. All of 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 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 began to
jump with all of their might.
Some of the frogs shouted into
the pit that it was hopeless, and
that the two frogs wouldn't be
in that situation if they had been
more careful, more obedient to
the froggy rules, and more
responsible. The other frogs
continued sorrowfully shouting
that they should save their
energy and give up, since they
were already as good as dead.
The two frogs continued
jumping as hard as they could,
and after several hours of
desperate effort were 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. His
companions began anew, 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 simple story contains a
powerful lesson. Proverbs 18:21
says, "There is death and life in
the power of the tongue." Your
encouraging words can lift
someone up and help them make
it through the day. Your
destructive words can cause
deep wounds; they may be the
weapons that destroy someone's
desire to continue trying - or
even their life. Your destructive,
careless word can diminish
someone in the eyes of others,
destroy their influence and have
a lasting impact on the way
others respond to them.
Be careful what you say. Speak
life to (and about) those who
cross your path. There is
enormous power in words. If
you have words of kindness,
praise or encouragement - speak
them now to, and about, others.
Listen to your heart and respond.
Someone, somewhere, is waiting
for your words....