undefined
undefined
A Parable of Two 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. 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,
they 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 with all their
might, and after several
hours of this, were quite weary. Finally, one of
the frogs took heed to
the
calls of his fellow frogs.
Exhausted, he quietly
resolved himself to his
fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, and died.
The other frog continued to jump as hard as he
could, although his body
was
wracked with pain and he was quite exhausted.
Once
again, his companions
began 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 leaped
so
high that he sprang from the pit.
Amazed, the
other frogs celebrated his
freedom and then gathering around him asked, "Why
did you continue jumping
when we told you it was impossible?"
The astonished frog explained to them that he was
deaf, and as he saw
their
gestures and shouting, he thought they were
cheering him. What he had
perceived as encouragement inspired him to try
harder and to succeed
against
all odds. This simple story contains a powerful
lesson.
The book of Proverbs 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 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...
4ucan2
