Two frogs named Will and Fern weren't looking where they were going and fell into a pit. At first, they thought it would be easy to jump out, but after numerous failed attempts they were getting desperate.
A crowd of animals gathered around to watch.
The consensus of the onlookers was there was no way either one could jump high enough to get out, so they urged the two to accept their fate.
The harder the trapped frogs jumped, the more the crowd yelled at them to surrender.
Finally, Will fell back to the bottom and gave up.
Fern refused to quit. With one mighty last try, she leaped out of the pit.
The other animals were amazed.
One asked her how she could keep trying despite their discouraging taunts.
Fern was shocked. "What do you mean? I'm a bit deaf. I thought you were rooting for me. I couldn't have done it without you."
Patty, a resident of a transitional housing program, gave a printed version of this story to my wife Anne. After a long period of homelessness and drug abuse, Patty wanted us to understand that positivism and support can inspire those who seem down and out to get up and out.
Patty said she escaped her own pit of despair because caring people at the housing program gave her the faith and confidence she needed to jump just a little harder.
There are lots of ways to help others. We can educate them, feed them, and house them. But we can also change their lives if we encourage and empower them.
-michael josephson
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