NK - encouraging words

[Langston, David R]

Encouraging 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
unfortunate frogs they would never get out.
The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to
jump up out of the pit.

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 simply 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 suffering and just die. He jumped even
harder and finally made it out.

When he got out, the other frogs asked him,
"Why did you continue jumping? Didn't you 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.
Be special to others.