Tonight I had an encounter with a frog. I don't mind spiders, snakes nor any other creepy creature for that matter (I have a pet spider - Sue), but hopping, little slimy frogs... I have a hard time implementing Genesis 1:28 here. I even chased a little field mouse in my grandmothers house to rescue it from being swatted by my brothers wild broom swings while my mother stood hysterical on the couch pointing the direction the mouse scurried in. It was a race between mouse survival or annihilation that day, and am happy to say the mouse was released back into the field. Much to the dismay of my grandmother (who didn't sleep for two nights). And while looking the frog in the eyes tonight (unafraid), it reminded me of only a few weeks ago when I finally conquered my fear of the amphibious.
I was heading back to my office after lunch, passing the big fountain in front of the entrance. It was one of the notorious hot summer days and I relished the thought of sitting in my air cooled office. But as I passed the fountain I saw it was half filled and sadness filled my heart as I was reminded about the terrible drought South Africa is experiencing. But something moved in the greenish water. It was a frog, (quite a big one I will add), swimming and trying to get a hold on the slippery bricks to get out. I was just about to slip through the doors when I heard the Holy Spirit remind me of Genesis 1:28 "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." I knew God wanted me to rescue the frog. I looked around if I could see one of the gardeners, but I knew the task was laid out for me.
After rummaging through the foliage surrounding the fountain, I found a stick. I looked at the frog, looked at the stick and thought "how am I going to do this?" God reminded me Moses only had a stick! I knelt down next to the fountain, I took a deep breath and shakily put the stick into the water next to the frog. Immediately it tried to grab onto the stick, but it was more a twig than a stick actually and I struggled to lift the frog the rest of the way. He kept slipping back into the water, not getting a proper hold. I saw he was tired and could have been swimming around in the water for a long time before I came along. At that moment the only thing of importance was to save the tired frog. I prayed: "Father, please help me to save this frog".
On the next try the frog wrapped his legs around the stick and I slowly started to lift him out. It felt like the frog and I were both holding our breaths. I slowly put the frog on the side of the fountain and out of relieve I sat next to it. We sat like that for a minute and as I thanked God for helping me to save the frog, I realized I wasn't afraid of it. In fact, the frog sat next to me, as if thanking God that someone saved him! He was a beautiful deep fern green colour with a milky yellow running towards his belly and a reddish hew around its little legs. I never saw the beauty of frogs until my eyes were opened to see it. I suddenly wondered how many things I was blind to? Does fear keep you blind to the beauty of Gods' creation? The beauty of His Love?
I got up to return to the office and sternly told the frog to stay out of that fountain. I found it funny when It "ribbited". "And I'm not going to kiss you either!" I said as I walked away smiling.
After rummaging through the foliage surrounding the fountain, I found a stick. I looked at the frog, looked at the stick and thought "how am I going to do this?" God reminded me Moses only had a stick! I knelt down next to the fountain, I took a deep breath and shakily put the stick into the water next to the frog. Immediately it tried to grab onto the stick, but it was more a twig than a stick actually and I struggled to lift the frog the rest of the way. He kept slipping back into the water, not getting a proper hold. I saw he was tired and could have been swimming around in the water for a long time before I came along. At that moment the only thing of importance was to save the tired frog. I prayed: "Father, please help me to save this frog".
On the next try the frog wrapped his legs around the stick and I slowly started to lift him out. It felt like the frog and I were both holding our breaths. I slowly put the frog on the side of the fountain and out of relieve I sat next to it. We sat like that for a minute and as I thanked God for helping me to save the frog, I realized I wasn't afraid of it. In fact, the frog sat next to me, as if thanking God that someone saved him! He was a beautiful deep fern green colour with a milky yellow running towards his belly and a reddish hew around its little legs. I never saw the beauty of frogs until my eyes were opened to see it. I suddenly wondered how many things I was blind to? Does fear keep you blind to the beauty of Gods' creation? The beauty of His Love?
I got up to return to the office and sternly told the frog to stay out of that fountain. I found it funny when It "ribbited". "And I'm not going to kiss you either!" I said as I walked away smiling.