Midnight Musings About…Frogs

That last trip out back with the dog is when I see the frogs. Rarely at eight o’clock or 10 o’clock. It’s usually closer to midnight. Not sure who is to blame. Me, the dog or the frogs. I probably should blame the dog because if he wasn’t such a “GI dog,” he could go out on his own. If you missed the blog about my “GI dog,” you can read it here.

Back to my midnight musings about frogs. If you read my last, lengthy post about “Mom Jeans,” you know I promised to keep this short… so let’s talk frogs.

Late at night, I often see frogs jump in the pool even though I beg them not to. That’s right, I have been known to beg them to just stay where they are on the side of the pool and not take the plunge. I whisper to them that if they stay put, the dog will quit barking at the wind or trees or chupacubra or whatever it is that possesses him to forget about doing his “business” and run around the back yard – when I just want to crawl into bed.

But they jump. And they swim to the bottom. My husband will watch the frogs jump and pretend he didn’t see them (which might be valid given his eyesight) or shrug his shoulders and head to bed. I cannot go to bed with frogs in my pool anymore than I could go to sleep until all my kids were tucked in or my teenagers were safely home.

I’m forced to grab the pool net and chase the frog around the pool to “rescue” him. This week, I wondered why I feel compelled to scoop the amphibians out of the pool and deposit them safely in the grass – probably to have them jump back in another night.

I have friends who have little frog ladders to assist the critters. I could do that but I feel the chance of the frog actually finding the ladder and using it seems small. And I would still lie awake in bed and wonder if the frog was climbing up the frog ladder to its safety.

The real reason, I reasoned, I insist on netting the frog is that if I don’t catch and release the frog, it will end up in the skimmer baskets and then I will have to deal with dead, smelly, bloated frogs later. I would rather spend the time – even at midnight – to take care of the problem than to have to deal with it later.

That’s where I make the leap (pun intended) from frogs to dealing with our problems. It is better to deal with problems early and often than to let them grow and fester. Putting off dealing with problems or ignoring them doesn’t work.

Unresolved problems don’t just go away. I might be able to ignore them for a bit but they will not disappear. If they are big enough problems and I try to “stuff” them, they can affect my physical health. As unpleasant as it might be to face the problem straight on, it is best.

Satan loves to take a problem and create resentment, anger, confusion or unforgiveness. He’s in the business of creating a life of strife, agitation and discord.

Problems in relationships often arise from misunderstandings. The Bible instructs us to love our enemies, forgive those who wrong us and to confess our sins.

The Bible also tells us the Lord will guide and strengthen us when we have trials.

So, when problems arise – or jump in my pool late at night – I want to deal with them as soon as possible. How about you? Are you a holder on-er? Do you let your “justified” offenses linger?

Here are a few of my favorite verses ~

But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Luke 6:27-30

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16

Make allowances for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3: 13

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

And everyone’s favorite – For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

How do you deal with problems? Right away or let them fester?

Oops! That wasn’t very short. Next time?