The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked,” What are you doing?”
The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”
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God gives us opportunities each and every day to make a difference in someone’s life. It may be the neighbor next door, the patient you are taking care of today, or the stranger you meet at the grocery store. He encourages us, and actually motivates us, to live a life where we make the attempt to save every “starfish” we come in contact with.
In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.” And if doing it for Him was not enough of a reason for us, He gives us a promise of great things for continuing to do good to His brothers and sisters in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Ask God to show you the opportunities that He has for you to touch the life of someone today and hold on because He will enrich your life beyond all measure for your service to His children.
May God Bless You in Everything,
Pastor Jason Phillips
Counselor, Royal Palm Christian Counseling
