While we were weeding yesterday, Chris found a little frog and put him in Brady’s bug catcher. After finishing our yard work, I plopped down on the grass with Brady and Abby who were steadily inspecting the frog. We took the little guy out and let him hop around; each time Brady re-catching him for a closer look.

As we watched this frog, Brady rapidly asked me questions: Mommy, where does he live? What does he eat? What does he feel like? Can I catch a fly for him? Can I give him some grass to eat? Where are his parents? I did my best to share my limited knowledge of frogs, and I encouraged him to hold him also. Brady could only muster up enough courage to touch him with his index finger; however, Abby grabbed the little guy with both hands saying, “Ffffff” (that is frog in one year old language) and “crrrr” (that is croak in one year old language) the entire time. We played with this little frog for twenty minutes before he “accidentally” hopped away (I let the poor guy go before Abby smushed him with delight or Brady smushed him with the bug catcher in his attempt to catch him–again).

This little brownish-green frog provided a moment for all three of us to stop and take notice. We noticed each other, and our reactions as we each reacted to the frog. We noticed one of God’s small little creatures that fits somewhere in the great cycle of our world. We noticed that there are so many things we still do not know. It was a moment where we all learned. Brady about frogs. Abby two new words (frog and croak). And me…well, I learned yet again how wonderful it is to view life through the eyes of my children; delighting at every small gift in front of us and absorbing all we can in that moment. 

Little green frog, wherever you are in our backyard, thank you for providing a small sacramental moment in our lives!

Do we stop and take notice of the small gifts in our life that provide moments to pause, to reflect, to learn, and to notice the Sacred at work in our life? 

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.