Later, as we were resting by a small wadi through which brown water lazily found its way downstream, Abishag took pleasure in disturbing the sunning frogs.

There were many of these denizens in this slow moving water. The current there was imperceptible except for the stream escaping from the downside end of a small pool. Abishag approached a sitting frog and attempted to sniff it. When it leaped into the water, the dog jumped back as if it has been stuck in the nose by a thorn. It quickly became a game as she first found and then approached each frog and lunged at it with front paws. When the frog leaped, she barked.

As she approached a large, dark green frog sitting on an outcropping root, she sniffed. The frog didn't move. She tried her trick of splashing down her front paws near the old frog. Still the frog didn't move. It seems oblivious to the dog's antics. At length, Abishag made a large splash accompanied by several barks; still the frog sat perfectly still. She looked at Jesus as if asking what to do. The Son of Man simply shrugged his shoulders and raised his palms upward in response. He hadn't the slightest idea. While the dog's attention diverted, the bullfrog leaped, alighting for an instant on her head. Abishag yipped, turned and fled. Jesus wept with laughter, as did we all. Abishag turned to look at the frog, which had climbed back upon its half-submerged root. The dog had had enough. Insulted by our laughter, she sauntered off and lay down in the shade of a tree.

"This is not an ordinary frog," observed Jesus. "Did you see how it ignored Abishag and then brazenly surprised her when she least expected it? The frog won the day, for the dog now leaves it alone!" Jesus laughed merrily.

"Now suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to his house in the middle of the night and yell through the window, 'Lend me some bread. A friend of mine who is traveling has come to my house and I have nothing to feed him.'

"Then your friend replies, 'Don't you know that it's the middle of the night? The house is locked, the family is asleep. I can't get up and give you anything now. Besides, what are you doing up feeding people at this hour? Can't this wait until morning?' You must admit, this is a pretty brazen request. And though your friend had no intention of getting up to give you anything, even though you are his friend, because of your brazenness, he will at length get up and give you whatever you need."

Jesus smiled and said, "You know, sometimes the Father is like that. He enjoys an audacious frog. He enjoys spunk and audacity. Do not be timid with the Father. Don't be afraid to take what you might think is a risk with the Father. With him, there are no risks. Only certainty. Believe in yourself and trust in him."