If “into every life a little rain must fall, why does it often turn into a frog strangler?” That’s a question my pet frog, Vagary, asked me just the other day. Vagary and I have been friends a long time. I confess, I didn’t have an immediate answer for him.

We accept and appreciate blessings that fall into our lives. We may not understand “why” they fall on us, but as long they’re blessings, it’s all right with us.

Where Vagary (and a lot of humans, I suspect) struggles is when problems, hassles, and negative stuff flood our lives and threaten to “strangle” us. In honor of my frog, I’ve dubbed these things the “vagaries” of life.

The American Heritage English Dictionary defines “vagary” as: “An erratic notion or action”. Vagaries are hard to define, totally unexpected, and generally irritating, at the very least.

While it’s very difficult, we are instructed in the Bible, to give thanks in the midst of the vagaries of life…“In all things give thanks”. We’re reminded that “God’s rain falls on the just and the unjust”.

We blame those vagaries that really bug us on the devil. One way or another, we feel better about life when we can figure out some logical reason for the negative vagaries of our lives.

I’m of the opinion that very often we don’t know, can’t know, and may never know “why”. Sometimes, the only conclusion we can come to is this: “Into every life a little rain must fall…and sometimes it seems like a frog strangler”.

Accidents happen; sickness occurs; business reversals pop up their ugly heads; our kid’s glasses get broken; a chronic illness grabs us and won’t let go; the tires on the station wagon wear out. You could add to this list and make it nearly endless.

Does the acceptance of my theory mean we should never pray for relief? Of course not! “In all things by prayer and supplication, let our requests be made known to God.” We shouldn’t feel that we’re especially naughty, clumsy, or deficient just because we bump into the vagaries.

Pat often hears from my lips, “The Vagaries got me again!” Something goes wrong; something I’ve planned doesn’t work out the way I expected it to work out; the Vagaries have struck, the rain is falling.

Here in central Florida, we had our version of the Major Vagaries last week. A major storm system moved in off the Gulf of Mexico. Every channel broadcast warnings of flooding and tornadoes. While we didn’t even get a drop of rain here in Sarasota, northeast of us lay devastation and carnage. As of this writing, there have been 39 deaths and 6 still missing.

I got to thinking about how I sometimes let my Vagaries get me down. Then I began comparing the little, tiny (by comparison) problems that sometimes creep into my life and felt ashamed. People here in central Florida have been really whacked and beat up. I invite you to join in prayer for these families who’ve had deaths. Property can be replaced. People? That’s a whole different story. What sadness!

Whether our frogs are cute and little or huge and overwhelming, we have choices about how we deal with the Vagaries that pop up in our lives. We can sit around and feel sorry for ourselves; we can have a pity party and send out invitations; we can waste finite energy dealing with matters we can’t control; or we can call them what they are (Vagaries), let them slide, roll with them, turn them over to the Lord, and get on with our lives. “Casting all your cares upon Him…” We have a choice about how to deal with these facts of life! Vagary and I are getting on with our lives.

What Are The Life Lessons?

• Not one of us is immune from the unexpected twists and turns of life.
• To Whom we turn for help and how we work through these circumstances says a great deal about our character.
• We can’t keep the frogs out of our lives, but we can keep them from slapping us silly with their coarse, sticky tongues.
• Don’t forget: One major difference between Vagary and me is that he eats what bugs him!

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