To FROG or Not To FROG

Frog-farts. Who has ever (I mean EVER) heard anyone say that? Me, never…until yesterday when we were having a Face Time session with our almost 4 year old little grand-princess. 

It was a silly, goofy, and funny, pre-birthday party conversation! We were laughing and carrying on and my hubs, her G-dad—yes we call him G-dad—says to her, for your birthday, I am bringing you a bottle of frog-farts.  She replies, “FROG FARTS and starts giggling.” I’m like, “frog-farts, what are you saying? Stop it!” He then asks our little grand princess, turned mermaid for the day, do you know what frog farts smell like? Pause. I watched her face be very puzzled and she was definitely thinking. Then she blurts out, “frog-farts smell like BUTT!”  He laughs. She laughs. We laugh. And, then ‘ole G-dad says, “nope…frog farts smell like a lake.”  She giggles and says questioningly “a lake?”  I scrunch up my eyebrows and am like…”a lake…that’s all you got?” Such an anti-climactic ending to this story….hahaha

Anti-climatic, yes; YET….Why am I sharing this silly story, from yesterday, about frog-farts?  It’s a legit question and here’s why.  First, so I don’t forget the ways God works in my life and secondly, to encourage someone else. Sometimes God uses the silliest, little, weird things to grab my attention and remind me that He is near and real and relational and knows me! Fast forward a few hours…

I got up at my sorta normal time today (the morning after the grand-princess-turned-mermaid-birthday celebration, COVID19 style), despite life being anything but normal right now.  Headed to the kitchen, grabbed my phone, checked my IG real quick (OK, maybe not real quick but you get the picture), brewed my coffee, poured in the Heavy Cream, sprinkled it with Stevia with monk fruit, gave it a stir, licked the spoon and scooted my booty into my little morning space to enjoy my quiet time. 

Before sitting down, I poured the water into my diffuser, picked my oils…Joy and Peppermint…and dripped them into the water.  Power on and diffusing begins.  Oh, how I love my diffuser.  Journaled for a few, about COVID-19 and the ways it has halted life, the world, caused chaos and fear and has forever changed all of us. Then, I opened my devo book.  It’s the one I have been using since January (The Message//Remix: Solo).  My pencil marked the page where I left it a couple of days ago (truth telling here, I don’t get to it every day. Grace to self). I paused to read that page again, made a couple notes there and flipped to the next devo reading, for today. 

You guys!  Guess what the heading said?  NO…not frog-farts! Be honest, did you think that? It said:

FROG:

Fully Rely On God

REALLY, the use of the word FROG?  I was like, “WHAATTTT!”

(Just in case there are in “doubters” in the house, here you go!)

So, I do realize this may not be as exciting for you as it is for me hahah and that’s OK. All I can say is that things like this stop me in my tracks, make me smile really big and shake my head, as I find myself whispering quietly…YES God, I am listening and I see this. What do you have for me today? What do you want me to see or know?  Don’t let me miss it. And then, heart of gratitude.

Over the years, I have learned that this is how God “speaks” to me.  A random, silly conversation about the gift of frog-farts, before a special 4th birthday party, and a devotional titled “FROG” is not random or coincidental.  It is my reminder in this unprecedented time, to know, remember and trust that He is here. He is near. He is Love. He is at work in the midst. Peace will come to all of the world.

This FROG moment is synchronicity within and around me, with the Holy Spirit, with God, with a power greater than myself. It captured my attention and connected me–spirit, soul and body.  Deep breath.  Smiling.  Thankful.  Hopeful.  A deep abiding peace within my gut. Thank you God for this little god-wink. It made my morning.

I continued to sip my coffee and look out my window, as I reflected and listened, all the while enjoying the hum and smell of the diffusing oils and the stillness that surrounded me.  Frog-farts and grand-princess giggles, with Meme and G-dad, are etched in my memory, for such a time as this, and “to FROG” is my mantra for the day.  My soul is at peace and open to receive from the power that envelopes and surrounds me.

To FROG or Not to FROG, that is the question.

Tammy Resler

What holds you back? What encourages you to rely on Him? Share your comments, ask your questions and, today, be on the lookout for the little God-winks.