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..:* A Parable *:..
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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 frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all their might.

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 gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as high as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled to him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not 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.
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.

A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.

(There is a third lesson hidden in here, (the most important one) don't be discouraged by what people say, you will never know if you can, unless you try...)

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