Steph posted some intense questions on her blog, here. It reminded me a lesson God taught me a year or so ago and the wonderfully personal way he delivered that message. Stephen Crane is one of my favorite poets. I fell in love with his work in high school. My favorite poem is THINK AS I THINK. "Think as I think," said a man, "Or you are abominably wicked; You are a toad." And after I had thought of it, I said, "I will then, be a toad." After finding this poem, I became a collector of all things froggy. I was in my office early one morning. I had come in around 7:15 to work in peace before the rest of the crew poured in. As I was typing, something moved in the corner. At first I thought it must be a cricket. I went to investigate, intending to catch the little guy and set him free. (Its bad luck to kill a cricket, you know?) It was a tiny creature all right, but not a cricket. A frog. No bigger than your fingernail. As I carried the little guy (or gal) outside, across the highway and into a field, I could feel God speaking to me. He was telling me that even when I think I'm alone, I'm not. Reminding me that he knows everything about me. He knows how to make me smile in those quiet times. He knows me better than I know myself. I could feel Him telling me, "I am ALWAYS close by, ALWAYS with you." Later that day we found out my mother's cancer had returned for a second time. Immediately after I heard those words, I thought of the frog. "I am ALWAYS close by, ALWAYS with you."

The lesson I learned was to look for God everywhere. EVERYWHERE!

God could have sent a person to say those things to me. He could have put a book or scripture in my path that would have reminded me of His promise. But he chose a frog. I know to some of you this may seem silly. That's okay. Have a giggle. I don't mind. I sometimes giggle when I think about it too; a God so loving that he takes the time to put a frog in a busy office building to make someone like me smile.... :D