I’m tired of the frogs.

There. I said it.

I know they are good for the ecosystem. I know they serve a purpose. I know they are part of nature. But I’m tired of the frogs.

We live on a property that shares a retention pond with the property next door. It’s beautiful. We have deer that wander through, herons that visit, turtles sunning themselves, and even a large terrapin that looks like it wandered straight out of prehistoric times.

And then there are the frogs. Lots and lots and LOTS of frogs.

When we first moved here a few years ago, I remember hearing them for the first time. The combination of tree frogs and bullfrogs created what I can only describe as a very enthusiastic choir. And by enthusiastic, I mean LOUD. It didn’t sound like the peaceful sounds of nature you might imagine. It sounded like someone had started up a piece of heavy equipment somewhere in the woods and forgotten to turn it off.

And they are everywhere! Frogs in the driveway. Frogs on the windows. Frogs on the doors. Tiny frogs. Huge frogs. Frogs that seem to have absolutely no sense of personal space.

During the summer, the pond comes alive with them. Even as I’m writing this, the chorus outside is so loud that it overtakes almost every other sound of the evening. I can promise you we have never had a peaceful chat in the yard in the summer.

And yet…I appreciate the frogs.

One of my biggest concerns about living so close to a pond was mosquitoes. I HATE mosquitoes. And mosquito bites. But do you know what we don’t have in our yard? Mosquitoes.

Do you know why? The frogs.

Those loud, annoying, everywhere-you-turn frogs are doing their job. They’re eating the mosquitoes. Suddenly, the thing I find annoying is also the thing protecting me from something I find even more annoying.

The frogs are also the sound of summer. We know the weather is warming when we start hearing that familiar chorus. Their noise is a reminder that the seasons are changing. The pond is alive. Something is happening all around us.

So, don’t be confused. I appreciate the frogs. But I’m still tired of the frogs.

And maybe that’s okay.

I think we sometimes forget this in ministry, especially in children’s ministry. We can love what we do and still be tired of it.

We can be called to ministry and still have days when we don’t want to deal with one more difficult conversation. We can adore the kids we serve and still feel exhausted by the noise, the mess, the questions, the behavior, the volunteers who didn’t show up, the parents who didn’t read the email, and the endless supply of Goldfish crackers that somehow always end up on the floor.

There are days when ministry feels a lot like my frogs: loud, messy, constant, and everywhere.

Ministry is hard. People are difficult. Serving others can drain you emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. There are weekends when you show up early and leave late. There are times when you pour your heart into something, and nobody seems to notice. There are moments when you feel underappreciated, misunderstood, or completely exhausted.

And if we’re honest, there may even be moments when you think, I’m tired of this.

It’s okay to be tired. Being tired doesn’t automatically mean you’re in the wrong place. It doesn’t mean you don’t love Jesus or the kids you serve. Sometimes it simply means you’re tired. Even Jesus stepped away from the crowds. He rested. He withdrew to quiet places. Needing rest isn’t a sign that you don’t care about the mission. It’s a reminder that you’re human.

But here’s where my frogs have something to teach me.

The frogs may be loud and annoying, but they’re also doing something important. They’re part of the ecosystem. They’re doing what frogs were designed to do.

And ministry is a little like that.

There are parts of your calling that will be beautiful, and there will be parts that are really, really annoying. There will be kids who become some of the greatest joys of your ministry, and there will be kids who test every ounce of patience you have. There will be volunteers who become lifelong friends, and there will be volunteers who cancel five minutes before service. There will be parents who encourage you, and there will be parents who don’t read a single email you send.

There will be Sundays when you leave thinking, this is why I do this. And there will be Sundays when you leave thinking, I am so tired of the frogs.
​
Both can be true.

So, if you’re tired of the frogs right now, I get it. But instead of complaining or contemplating jumping out of the pond, just tell God you’re tired.
Remember that the noise might mean something important is happening. The mess might mean the program is engaging. The calling sometimes might be really inconvenient. The very things that drive us crazy might be evidence that something is alive.

So yes, I’m tired of the frogs.

But tonight, as I listen to that ridiculously loud chorus outside my window, I’m going to try to remember something: The frogs are doing what they were made to do.

And maybe, on the days when ministry feels loud and messy and exhausting, you can remember that you are doing what God has called you to do, too.

And that’s a beautiful thing.

Even when it’s really, really loud.

Christen Clark is a family ministry expert and speaker with over 20 years of leadership experience equipping parents and church leaders to disciple kids with confidence. Christen is the host of 7 Minute Devotions for Busy Parents and The Collide Kids Podcast. She lives in Cumming, Georgia with her family and their mischievous dog, Arlo. To learn more about Christen or invite her to speak at your church, visit christenclark.org.