A Frog Named HOPE

I make a practice of looking for good news every morning as I watch the news and read the ticker tape that runs along the bottom of the TV screen. Some mornings I am hard-pressed to see much good news. It seems we are inundated with the horrible and the ridiculous.

Although I did have to look a little harder this morning here are a few things I discovered: 

Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to a town in Italy reeling from a horrific earthquake. How wonderful to see peace enter in the midst of the storm.

Police officers escort three daughters of one of their fallen comrades to the school homecoming dance. The officers drove the three girls and their dates to dinner and to the dance. They waited for the girls throughout the evening and drove them home. When asked about their choice to do this, one of the officers said: "The important thing for everyone in that family, the girls' family, to remember, is that they’ll never be by themselves, we will always be with them. We will never replace their dad, that’s for sure, but we will share in their moments with them."

A 102-year-old Missouri woman who has made over 400 items that she gives to those in need was given a special gift herself. She has always wanted to ride in a police car so the local police responded to her wish. When they escorted her to the patrol car she asked if she could be handcuffed and ride in the back. They granted her request and then escorted her to several homes so she could deliver her most recent homemade goodies. At the end of her adventure she was asked if it was fun and she replied: "Oh yes! Handcuffs and all!"

A once thought endangered frog has resurfaced in Yosemite National Park. One representative stated it brought them great hope in the resilience of the little guy that they would survive and increase.

I decided to name the frog HOPE. I'm not sure what it says that one of the good news features today is about a frog. But I figure, why not? Good news offers hope in any size, color, shape or form. So a frog it is. 

And perhaps there is some of the great mystery of God's handiwork at play in the news of this frog and the future of its species. I think it may be significant this little bit of news is stirred in to the pot of all that is going on in the world today. 

I am just as guilty as the next person to look for God's presence and miracles to be BIG. A little frog is not so big. 

Yet I am reminded daily if I will set aside my tendency to look and discover and sometimes judge (ouch), I will enter the realm of new discoveries all around me.

This picture I found is not the frog from Yosemite National Park but I suspect it and that frog have something in common. It's stretching out and relaxing -- it feels pretty good. After all, it is not headed to extinction after all. It has others like him and they are going to see to it they flourish.

THAT is something pretty miraculous and yes, it offers us hope.

Jesus told the disciples: "I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”

I am casting my eyes on Christ and in that I find peace and renewed hope. In the midst of this messed-up world, God is in our midst. 

Enjoying the journey,

Debra

bebprov356.blogspot.com

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

-- Proverbs 3:5-6 --

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