Frogs

-- Author Unknown --

Two frogs were hopping across a field when they fell into a well that was being dug. All their frog friends gathered around to see but they knew they were doomed to die in the well.

Both frogs tried again and again to jump out, but the dirt was wet and slippery, and their efforts were useless. Over and over they jumped to the top, only to slide down again.

The frogs at the top knew it was useless and yelled to them to give up, stop trying and just lie down and die. One frog listened to his friends and he sunk to the bottom of the water lying at the bottom of the well and died. The other frog became more determined and after a few more mighty tries, he got up to the top where the other frogs pulled him to safety.

They said to him, "Why did you keep trying? We knew it was no use. We told you to give up!"

The frog just looked at them and said, "I can't tell what you are saying. I am deaf. But I want to thank you for yelling down and encouraging me not to give up. If you hadn't kept talking to me, even though I didn't know what you were saying, I probably would have sunk to the bottom and died, like my friend."

It goes to show the power of words to encourage or discourage.

Affective Skills Web Site

Last Modified: March 22, 2003