Posted by TerryS (24.24.79.72) on October 30, 2000 at 19:04:56:
THE POWER OF WORDS
A group of frogs were 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 to jump up out of the pit
with all of 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.
- Author unknown