The Toad

The Toad sat in quiet defiance of the Snake. Not once, but many times, he had seen Snake strike and devour his friends and family. But he was smarter, and more important, faster than any of his friends ever had been.  Hadn’t he won this game countless times? He would always win!  Each time he would wait a little longer.  It was great fun.  He would sit alert, tense and just as Snake started to strike, he would flex his muscled legs and soar through the air to escape.  Snakes’ fangs would grasp thin air. Ha ha, oh what fun!  And the excitement, thrilling.

Toads’ friend, “Old Owl”, had tried to tell him he was tempting fate. “Stay away from Snake,” Owl said, “or one day you’ll end up as lunch. Snake is mighty tricky.”  

Now, “Old Owl” was the king of the pond.  As far as Toad knew, Owl had never been wrong about anything, but there had never been a toad like him before either. Wasn’t he the fastest toad that had ever existed? Wasn’t he the smartest toad that had ever come to the Pond?  He was proud of his muscled legs and his deep bass croak. He was the finest of specimens’, and he knew it. He would always win!

Snake moved!  Toad was instantly alert.  He focused his whole attention on Snake. His timing had to be exact.  He tensed his muscles, he was ready to soar.  His heart was beating faster, blood rushing through his body.  His eyes flashed defiance to Snake.  Owl didn't know what he was talking about.  He was ready!

Suddenly, a pain shot through his leg. He tried to jump but couldn’t.  He looked back and saw Snake’s brother with his fangs buried deep in his leg.  Snake was smiling now.  As Snake opened his mouth wide for his lunch, Toad remembered what he had heard, “Snake is mighty tricky.”

James 4:7-8, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you…”