Julie Lavender

CONSIDER THE TOAD AND FROG
by Julie Lavender

It’s that time of year when I’m serenaded on my evening walks by a cacophony of amphibious calls. One of the first sounds of springtime.

WAKE UP! SPRING IS COMING!

Toads and frogs, revived from a long winter’s nap, croaking and chirping in an endless chorus while I make my way through the neighborhood.  

Their calls are relentless. The little guys are happy to be awake and alive, a resurrection of sorts and they proudly proclaim that to anyone in earshot.

NOT ALL HOPPERS ARE THE SAME....

Before I knew my biologist husband, they were all the same animal to me. This hopping creature that I didn’t mind observing, but I didn’t have any desire to pick up and hold.

And, I guess I was somewhat correct, as they both belong to the same animal group. However, they’re actually very different animals.

Frogs need to live near water; hence their smooth moist skin often makes them look a bit slimy.

Toad bodies are dry, rough and bumpy.

Most frogs have a narrower body than toads and have round bulging eyes that stick up from their smooth heads.

Short, stubby legs lend themselves to small hops for toads, but longer, stronger back legs help frogs dash into the air for long-distance, higher leaps.

DON'T EAT THE TOAD....

Toads don’t have quite the predators that frogs have. You’d think it would be the opposite, as frogs should be able to escape the clutches of a predator with those Olympic-style jumps.

But God in His infinite wisdom and creativity knew that stubby-legged, slow-jumping toads would be slightly handicapped when it came to becoming a meal for hawks or snakes or raccoons or such.

So, God gave the warty-looking toad the advantage of tasting nasty. The toad’s skin tastes bitter and actually emits a toxic substance that burns the eyes and nose of a predator and can cause foaming of the mouth when eaten. Most predators spit the toad out quickly.

DIFFERENT NOTES, SAME SONG

Different in physical appearances, and to the trained ear – like my husband’s – different notes in their chorus of nighttime music. To an untrained ear like mine, however, their tunes sing the same song: “It’s springtime! A time of new birth! A time of new life! Wake up – Wake up! Proclaim the good news!”

Springtime is just around the corner, though sometimes it feels as if the weather hasn’t gotten the memo. New life, assuredly. The resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.


JOIN THE CHORUS

I believe God wants us all to lend our voices to the cacophony of calls to proclaim the Good News. Smooth-skinned, bumpy-skinned, warts and all. Short legs, long legs, high-jumpers or slow movers.

When we all lend our voices to the same message, the notes blend into the most beautiful song of all:

HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

What about you? Have you heard the chorus of spring peepers where you live? 

Did God use one of his beautiful creations to teach you something this week? Please share below what you learned....I'd love to hear about YOUR walk with God this week.