The Starfish Story

The following is a story written by Loren Eisley:

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 youth 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.

As you know, King’s Kids Worldwide had a program called the Starfish Program. It’s name was derived from the above story. You may also know that King’s Kids is closing it’s doors and starting the process of merging with Starfish Ministries based out of Lynden, Washington and Langley, British Columbia. Their name was derived from the very same story and uses the very same philosophy to provide help to those in need. 

We are aware that there are millions of needy and marginalized people all over the world. We are also aware that it is impossible to help them all. We can however make a difference to that one, and that one and that one… It is very easy to become overwhelmed with the visible needs around us. How could I possibly make a difference?  Not all of you can become missionaries or go to a foreign land to help the needy, but each and every one of you has the capability to make a difference to “that one”.  It can be accomplished with as little as volunteering at a homeless shelter, or giving up your daily Starbucks or Tim Horton’s habit and donating the money to a worthy cause. Don’t get me wrong. I am not asking for your money. If God wants you to donate to us, he will put that on your heart without my help. What I am asking is to become “ENGAGED”. Get rid of the “What can I possibly do?” mindset and replace it with a “What CAN I do?” mindset. Become that little boy and make a difference to THAT ONE!

God Bless

Frank King RN, Tytoo Gardens Orphanage

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