10 Frogs

                                                                                            

                                

A frog on a lily pad…by Josh

 

My young friend Joshua has gone through some tough stuff in his eleven short years…and he hasn’t had much time to be a little boy…until lately.  Lately, Josh has been swinging, and running, and exploring in the forest—all things every boy is supposed to do.  And just last week, Josh caught some frogs—little tiny frogs—just past their tadpole stage—and he put them in a bucket.  These frogs have given Joshua great amounts of joy. 

Now frogs aren’t really my thing, and I wasn’t really sure why they were such a cause of rejoicing for him, but knowing that this now-little boy was thrilled with them, I tried to listen as he has talked incessantly about his new “pets”. 

But then, last Wednesday night, I figured it out.  As I attended our church’s family program with my little friend (his mom had to work), I found out why these frogs were so precious to him.  As we were instructed by the pastor, we prayed as families (and since I was the “parent sub” for the night, Josh and I held hands and prayed).  First, Pastor Shane asked us to appreciate God for Who He was; I did this, but Josh declined.  Then he asked us to pray for someone else; I did this, but  Josh declined.  Lastly, we were asked to thank God for something He had done for us.  This time, Josh wanted to pray first,  boldly offering up, “Thank you so much, God, for letting me catch those frogs.”  And with tears in my eyes at such innocent, beautiful childish gratefulness, I thanked God for the frogs too, and said a hearty “Amen.”  After we had finished praying, and the pastor began speaking again, Josh whispered to me, “When I used to live at my other house, I prayed that God would let me catch a frog.  Now He did.”  And I told Josh that He had such a good, loving Father, that not only did He answer Josh’s prayer, He answered it x 10. 

Sometimes it takes a child to teach us.

God so desires to give us good things.  He so desires for us to pray to Him with child-like faith—believing He will hear us.  I think He has probably has tears in His eyes when we adore Him as our doting Father, run to Him with our trivial concerns, and wait confidently for Him to answer. 

And answer us He will. 

In abundance. 

Maybe even x 10.

 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:7-10