Speak Life

A group of frogs was traveling through the woods looking for a bigger pond when two of them fell into a very deep hole. The other frogs crowded around, and when they saw just how deep the hole was they shook their heads and started calling to the two frogs at the bottom that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the shouting and with all their might kept trying to jump up out of the hole. The other frogs jeered at them and told them to give up as their efforts were useless. Finally, one of the frogs stopped jumping and, panting heavily, fell on his side. He lay still and soon died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. The crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just give up and die. He jumped even harder, and finally made it out of the top of the hole. When he got out, the other frogs were astonished and asked him, “Didn’t you hear us?” The frog look puzzled and asked them to repeat what they had just said because he was a bit deaf. He thought they had been shouting encouragement to him!

There is power in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone in difficult circumstances can lift them up and help them to make it through another day. Destructive words, on the other hand, can be all it takes to deprive them of hope and life. The power of words is much greater than we may think. Be careful what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The person who makes the effort to encourage another is special indeed.

Weekly reflections are provided by our bulletin publisher, J. S. Paluch, Inc.