F.R.O.G. It usually conjures up images of wet, slimy, wart-filled amphibians. However, for some students at the Christian Academy of Knoxville, it is an acronym reminding them to “fully rely on God.”
11 years ago, Mrs. Laurel Clothier, a first-grade teacher at CAK, “wanted something that would teach my students this biblical truth and would be easy for them to remember.” She decided to make an item they could keep, a frog, as a reminder that God is someone they can always trust.
It caught on like wildfire! 165 frogs later, Mrs. Clothier's class is a shrine to frogs. “Students will travel and find something frog-related and bring it back to me. I have so many frog statues, I can’t display them all!”
Her classroom even has an official frog mascot now named “Daisy!” It was an idea one of her parents had, to dress up in a frog costume as Daisy and visit the classroom during birthday celebrations. This year is the first one Daisy has missed, due to COVID-19, she is currently quarantined on her lilypad.
The students love their frogs! Many older students from those first years still have theirs and say it helps them remember that God loves them.
Mrs. Clothier has been a teacher at CAK for 25 years. She has always felt Christian education was where God called her to serve. Mrs. Clothier loves being able to share her faith with her students, and what better way than by hand-making stuffed frogs?
Do you still have your frog? Leave a picture or comment below.