A Tale of Two Frogs
Author Unknown
Several frogs were traveling through the woods when a couple of them fell into a deep pit. The other frogs saw how deep the pit was and told the two frogs in the hole that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. Their friend kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, 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. Finally he jumped as hard as he could and made it out. When he got out, the other frogs were amazed and asked, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were offering words of encouragement which is why he continued jumping.
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.
2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.
Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of the spoken word… it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. But, rare indeed, is that wise individual who will take the time to encourage another, even when it seems there is nothing in it for him/her.
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Thanks for the share, WK!
