March of the Toads

January 20, 2016 | by: Angela Karum | 6 Comments

Posted in: Identity

I’m afraid of frogs and toads – my one phobia.

When my kids and I moved into our first home in Florida in the summer of 2008, we discovered a tiny black toad living in the mulch around my rose bushes. It was sort of cute so I resisted my natural freak-out tendencies and allowed it to stay. Soon after we settled in, Tropical Storm Fay hit Florida and the creek on our property overflowed with all the rain. Our little pet toad didn’t seem bothered and continued to thrive in the rose garden.

Until tragedy struck.

My kids were returning one evening from a visit to their aunt and uncle’s, when Uncle PJ accidentally stepped on our little toad hopping in the dark across the sidewalk. My daughter was devastated. As I tucked her into bed, my 7-year old girl begged me, “Mommy, please can we ask Jesus to bring our toad back to life?” She knew Jesus was good at resurrecting people, so why not a toad?

I couldn’t say no to those big brown eyes. “Sweetie, that toad’s body is really squished. I don’t think Jesus should bring its body back to life, but I’ll ask Him to bring him back with a new body.” So we prayed and I asked Jesus to resurrect our little toad.

A few days later, there was a little black toad in our rose garden. My daughter was overjoyed! I was dumbfounded. Oh me of little faith!

But the miracle didn’t stop there.

The next morning I glanced out my kitchen window and the yard was bouncing! Hundreds of tiny toads were hopping across the grass. It was like one of the plagues of Egypt!

Apparently all that standing water from Tropical Storm Fay had been a perfect breeding ground for amphibians and now they were taking over. Toads were everywhere! They covered the driveway and sidewalk. They would hop in the house every time we opened the door.

God has a sense of humor.

It was several weeks before the toad population hopped away. Despite the anxiety and annoyance of stepping over toads every time I went outside, their presence was a vivid reminder of the lavishness of God. I asked Him to bring back one little toad for my daughter. He gave us thousands, thanks to the faith of a little girl.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

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Angela Karum, mother of two teenagers and Florida resident since 2008, fills her free time hunting treasures in used book stores and sipping Nutella lattes with friends. Her compassionate heart and ready smile belie an adventurous spirit cultivated during her childhood in the Amazon jungle.

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