A group of frogs was traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they 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 with all of their might to jump up out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead.

Finally, one frog 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. 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. The tongue has the power of life and death. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and helps them make it through the day.



2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be all 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.

They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
� -Carl W. Buehner

Some additional lessons suggested by readers:

• Listen to yourself and not others, do what you know to be right, don't just follow the crowd.�The frog that jumped out did.
• Ignorance is bliss.�Some times it's good to be deaf, it keeps you out of trouble.