Two frogs

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.