This seems like a joke day.
An old man was fishing on the bank of his favorite fishing hole when suddenly, he heard a voice say, “Hey, you!”. Somewhat startled, the man looked around, but didn’t see anyone.
A few minutes later, he heard the voice again, but this time it said, “Hey, I’m talking to you!”. The man looked around again, but again saw no one.
Finally, the voice said, “Down here!”. The old man looked down and saw a frog. The frog said, “Pick me up.” Curiously, the old man bent down and picked up the frog. As he brought the frog up to the height of his face, the frog said, “I’m a magical frog. If you kiss me, I’ll turn into a beautiful young bride.”
Instead of kissing the frog, the man gently began to put the frog into the top pocket of his bib overalls. “Hey, what are you doing?” the frog exclaimed, “I told you to give me a kiss and I’ll turn into a beautiful young bride!”
The old man said, “At my age, I’d rather have a talking frog.”
I always get a kick out of this joke. I find some lessons in it, as well. As we age, our needs and desires change. The excitement and adventure we once sought as a youth somehow is replaced with our desire for health, safety and security.
As a youth, I remember feeling invincible. I didn’t necessarily go out and look for danger, but I had a feeling I could do anything, even if a little danger was involved.
I remember one time in my teens, some friends and I went to our friend’s cabin. The cabin was situated between a river and a small lake. We fished and hunted on the river and we swam in the lake. All my friends were good swimmers. I was not. I could swim enough to save my life if I had to, but that was about it.
One of my friends had the wise idea to swim across the lake. It was probably 500 yards across. They all jumped in and began swimming across, which obviously turned into a race. I was already a bit of an outsider because I was very much in tune with rules and rarely violated them, whereas they were adventure seekers and risk takers, rules or not. By the way, one of the rules my friend’s father had set was don’t try to swim across the lake.
Normally, I would have waited for them on the bank and just put up with their teasing and ridicule for not joining them later. However, on this occasion, I decided to join them. I jumped in and began swimming. They were much further ahead of me, so when I began having problems about halfway across, they were already at the three-quarter mark. No one was looking back as they were eagerly racing each other to the opposite bank.
I could feel myself beginning to slow and then my legs were no longer kicking. My arms couldn’t hold me up without the assistance of my legs and I began to feel myself sinking. I started to panic. There was only one person who could help me at that point and that was God. I remember praying to God asking Him to save me from drowning. I remember begging for forgiveness for having made such a stupid decision. I remember trying to strike a deal with God if He would save me. Suddenly, I got a burst of energy, began doing the sidestroke and finally made it across the lake. About the time I made it to shore, my friends were already rested and jumped into the water to race back. I walked around the lake to get back to the cabin. I had learned my lesson.
Have you ever tried to make a deal with God? It’s funny how our minds work. God didn’t need a deal from me. He saved me because He loves me.
Looking back, here’s how I view my swimming dilemma. I had a choice. I could choose to swim across the lake and perhaps drown in the process, or I could remain on shore, stay safe, and subject myself to the ridicule I knew my friends would be heaping on me once they returned. I chose the wrong route. That was entirely on me.
God gives us free will and allows us to make choices in our lives. Some of the choices we make turn out to be pretty poor choices. God doesn’t need a deal to get us out of a jamb resulting from our decision. He just needs our faith; faith that encourages us to turn to Him, faith that He will help us in time of need. It may not result in what we were hoping for, but the ending that results may end up even better than the one we had chosen.
God let me make a choice to swim. He probably allowed me to struggle a little so I could learn not to repeat that mistake. In the end, however, He gave me strength and saved me from drowning.
I didn’t have a choice when I began having symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis and was finally diagnosed. It’s certainly not something I would choose. Even when it’s not a choice, God will be there for us. He’s here for me now. He inspires me to get up in the morning. He gives me strength to accomplish. He provides me with the ability to share my thoughts in words. He encourages you to read them. I don’t need a deal with God to get me through this; He’s right here beside me all along the way.
Remember how the frog tried to make a deal with the old man? The frog promised she’d turn into a beautiful young bride if the old man would only kiss her. The old man didn’t need a deal. He had other plans for the frog.
God has plans for all of us. Just follow His lead, trust in Him and He’ll take you to new and exciting adventures. I never dreamed I’d be writing this blog and thousands would be reading them. That was God’s plan for me; no deal required.
When MG gets you down, don’t try to make a deal with God. Quite frankly, we’re never real good at keeping up our end of the bargain anyhow. Just talk to Him. Show Him that you believe and trust in the plan He has for you.
You might never turn into a beautiful young bride, but you might be worth more as a talking frog.
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