A
group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a
deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two
frogs 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. The other frogs 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. He jumped even
harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you
not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were
encouraging him the entire time.
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
words… 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. Special is the individual who will take the time
to encourage another.
