The Plague of the Frogs

Do you remember the account in Exodus 8 where God demonstrates HIS great power to Pharaoh and the Egyptians? He ultimately delivers the children of Israel from Pharaoh's rule after hardening Pharaoh's heart. Pharaoh wouldn't let the children of Israel leave Egypt. They were being oppressed. They were Pharaoh's slaves, being severely mistreated. Through Pharaoh's stubbornness, God set the scene to deliver the children of Israel from his rule and prove to the Egyptians that He was the living God. Through Moses and Aaron, God repeatedly told Pharaoh, "to let the children go." But Pharaoh wouldn't listen.

God sent down 10 plagues (signs and wonders) from Heaven to show His power and bring judgment on Egypt. The second plague, was that of frogs.

"And the Lord spoke to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, "Thus says the Lord: Let my people go, that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs. So, the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the house of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants." Exodus 8:1-4

This is what I thought of this morning, as my dear, sweet, 7 year old, animal enthusiast son, Luke, beckoned me outside in my pajamas to check on his frogs from last night. 12 poor frogs spent their night in our recycling bin.

As the daylight fades and evening approaches, you will find Luke hunting through the dirt and grass of our yard in search of frogs....really dirt toads (I think). They don't live in water, they live in the moist dirt, and as darkness envelopes, the frogs descend upon us. They are everywhere in the yard....teeny tiny baby frogs, medium sized adolescent frogs...and the big daddy frog that lives in our downspout. Luke will sit guard and wait for him. He is HUGE! The biggest frog I have ever seen.

Daily, my frog loving son will catch the frogs, put them in the recycling bin filled with dirt and stones and there they will spend the night. He even catches bugs for their midnight snack. Lightening bugs seem to be the bug of choice. You know when a frog has eaten a lightening bug because his whole belly lights up! (I am absolutely serious....I had to see it to believe!)

Then each morning, I gently tell Luke that his "overnight pets" need to be let go. He always asks if he can keep "just one a little longer?" I feel bad....for Luke and then for the frog. I agree, but as he lets the others go......I think he, too, feels bad and the last frog is released, only to be captured again that evening.

The release is quite funny. As we gently tip the recycling bin to its side...the frogs realize freedom is at hand. They are tentative to emerge from the bin (probably from all the jostling), but once they taste freedom...they are off in every direction.

When my aunts were here last week, one had the idea to mark the frogs to see if Luke always finds the same ones (he has to be or else we really are dealing with the plague of the frogs around here!) But we have begun marking them with red nail polish-ever so slightly. Now, if anyone reading this thinks that is cruelty to animals...I am sorry....it is really innocent. We don't intend any harm. I looked on the internet to see how to mark frogs, but didn't come up with anything. If anyone knows a better way....please share...as I don't desire a yard filled with dead frogs...and my son would be crushed beyond belief. So far, so good.

Last night, he was quite excited because our first "marked" frog had been found. We marked the rest of the frogs and will see who reappears in the coming days.

I love seeing the outdoors through his little nature loving eyes. He loves all of God's creation and is in awe and wonderment at each new creature that crosses his path. I am not much of a science loving mommy.....it just wasn't ever my thing. But to see this love and passion in my child, it brings a whole new passion for me. Together we investigate each animal and find out how to care for it, what it eats, how it lives...and it breaks his heart to see them hurt or injured. We've investigated caterpillars, worms, snakes, spiders, turtles and birds and this year.....it has been all about frogs!

I'm happy and relieved to say, we don't have frogs coming in our bedroom, into our oven, or in our kitchen bowls....sometimes into the house.....but I quickly scurry Luke back to the outdoors, frog in hand! So, the plague of frogs around here has stayed outdoors.

If you ever drive by my house at dusk and see a flashlight beaming in the dark....rest assured....it is just Luke hunting for his overnight pets.....his froggy friends!

May we all enjoy seeing God's creation through the eyes of our children and savor those moments of questions, wonderment and pure joy.....from one mommy to another-Stacy