Serving Others

Yesterday, I went onto the back porch and glanced over at Lily’s doghouse. Something wiggled and dangled from off its roof, caught in a spider’s web.

Looking closer, I saw that a little frog was hopelessly trapped.

I grabbed a paper towel and used it to pull the frog out of the web and then took him to the water pump and gently let little drops of water loosen the entanglement.

The mesh was on each of its little feet and even across its face.

Very gently, I pulled the strands off, and when the web was removed from his head, I saw beautiful, minuscule eyes. The frog was pastel green in color and so cute. I placed him in my garden box among the chives and one tomato plant.

He seemed weak. I checked on him periodically as he moved to different spots, regaining his strength. Later in the day, he made a little impression in the soil under some chickweed to hide. Carefully, I placed a brown leaf over him.

The next day, he was gone from the garden box.

Frogs are active at night, so hopefully, he is happily safe somewhere else this morning. It brought me great satisfaction to help this tiny creature—something I needed to uplift my spirits. Over and over, we are told how Christ came to this earth not to be served but to serve. Jesus knew that service to others is what our hearts need to be happy and fulfilled.

Too many times, my mind is focused on self and the unhappy things happening in this world, but through this little frog, Jesus reminded me again that ministry to others is the pathway to a fulfilling and purposeful life.

At church, we recently celebrated the Communion service.

The pastor spoke and said that even Judas’s heart was touched and drawn to the Savior at the Last Supper. The emblems of the bread and juice remind us of Jesus’ great sacrifice for us all. As we partook of the bread and juice, the pastor reiterated, “Jesus did it for you.” That thought touched my heart. Thank You, Lord, for including me and for including all of us in Your saving work. May we each continue to serve one another until You come again.

Rosemarie Clardy