Every little helps

The Starfish Story

An old man was walking on the beach one morning after a storm.

On the distance, he could see someone moving like a dancer.

As he came closer, he saw that it was a young woman picking up starfish and gently throwing them into the ocean.

"Young lady, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

"The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die," she said.

"But young lady, do you not realize that there are many miles of beach and thousands of starfish? You cannot possibly make a difference."

The young woman listened politely, then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea.

"It made a difference for that one."

~Adapted from the original by Loren Eiseley

I like this story, it suggest that no action is too small or insignificant to be worth the effort. With yet another storm brewing in the Atlantic, I sense that some of my pre-Christmas time will be spent clearing up the mess, mother nature can leave. But this will be nothing compare to some of the natural disasters the people of the world have faced this year. From a distance it can be hard to know where to start helping when such enormous tragedy strikes. It can also be just as tricky to know how to help the neighbour in need or a friend who has  seemingly lost their way.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't make a difference, even the simplest gesture can sometimes mean the world to someone in need. We all need to open our eyes and see those who are suffering in this time of plenty and reach out to help. I read another quote at the weekend that said: "Be compassionate and support those who are less fortunate, because life has a way of turning the tide and one day you may be the one in need." Enjoy your Christmas, however life finds you and go into the New Year with a compassionate heart and eyes open to the needs of others.