The Wide-Mouthed Frog

Last Sunday we had the story of the Wide-Mouthed Frog, who had a very big mouth, loved the sound of his own voice, and ate... flies.

The Wide-Mouthed Frog decided to go on a journey to see the world. On his journey, he met some other creatures, who didn't look like him or talk like him or eat like him. The Wide-Mouthed Frog was rather boastful, and announced arrogantly in his big, wide-mouthed voice, "I'm the Wide-Mouthed Frog, and I eat flies! Who are you, and what do you eat?"

When he met the sheep, he called him a strange, woolly creature and made fun of him eating grass. When he met the pig, he made fun of his smelly breath. When he met the donkey, he made fun of him eating porridge.

When he met a strange looking animal that looked rather like a mossy log, he got quite a shake-up when the crocodile announced, "I'm a CROCODILE and I EAT WIDE-MOUTHED FROGS!"

With that, the Wide-Mouthed Frog puckered up his mouth into the tiniest, narrowest mouth he possibly could and squeaked, "Oh, Wide-Mouthed Frogs, gosh, you don't see many of them around these days, do you? I'm off!" And he hopped away.

We talked about how vain and mean the Wide-Mouthed Frog was, and how hurtful the unkind things he said were. We hope the Wide-Mouthed Frog learnt to think before he speaks in future!

We read the letter in the Bible:

We all belong to God’s family. Be kind to one another. Share what you have with one another. When you speak, speak to build up one another. Use kind and helpful words. Be kind to one another.

We made some wide-mouthed frogs, with tongues that said 'USE KIND WORDS' to remind us God wants us to say things that are kind and helpful to people, not hurtful.

(based on Ephesians 4:25—5:2)