I think we all know the story of the starfish very well but I'm going to tell it just in case you do not. It will help me make my point.
A young man went for a walk on a long open stretch of beach. The sun was coming up and it was a beautiful morning. All along the beach, he could see starfish stranded on the sand as a result of the outgoing tide. Birds were feasting away and the sun would soon get the others.
Not too far down the beach, he found an elderly man also enjoying the early morning on the beach. As he drew closer, he saw that this man was busy picking up starfish one at a time and tossing them back in the sea.
Sir, he said, do you realise you are wasting your time? There are thousands of starfish on many miles of beach. You will never be able to save all of them. Or even a significant percentage of them.
The elderly man listened patiently as he bent down to pick up the next one. He held it in his hand for the young man to see, before tossing it into the sea.
It made a difference to that one! he said. And bent down to pick up the next one.
Do you have an inkling of the times in your life where you were that lucky starfish? Where someone showed a response to you against all the odds? A response that changed your future or saved your life.
Sometimes we miss those moments but they happen anyway. And if we could remember them with gratitude it would help energise your efforts for the starfish on your beach. No one can do everything for everyone. But all of us can do something for someone. In fact, we would do even more if we could remember the times when we were on the receiving end of that random act of kindness.
My grandmother had a favourite song.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Do you remember your starfish moments? Ponder on them today. You will be ready when you meet another starfish tomorrow!
Please share with us a starfish moment from your life. We would so appreciate it.
