Parable of the Starfish

It happened two Sundays ago when I was about to go to church.  I was waiting for my mom and daughter when I decided to read Biology: Concepts and Applications.  While I was reading the textbook, I happened to flip one of the front pages.  I was surprised to see this page about a starfish.  Yes, starfishes are interesting creatures belonging to Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Echinodermata and Class Asteroidea.  But the page written about them were on a different context...quite different from what you expect to read in a Biology textbook.  It wasn't about facts nor theories.  It was a parable...an inspiring story. 

PARABLE OF THE STARFISH

One day, an old man was walking along a beach that was littered with thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore by the high tide. 

As he walked he came upon a young boy who was eagerly throwing the starfish back into the ocean, one by one. 

Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked what he was doing. Without looking up from his task, the boy simply replied, "I'm saving these starfish, Sir". 

The old man chuckled aloud, "Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?" 

The boy picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and turning to the man, said, "It made a difference to that one!" 

With this, I suddenly remembered a quotation when I was in grade school.  My English teacher, then,  required us to memorize five inspiring quotes.  This was one of them:

"I am only one, but I am one

 I cannot do everything but I can do something

 And what I should do and can do

 By the grace of God I will do."

I'm glad I got to read this story.  Now I look at starfishes differently..  Whenever I lose patience teaching difficult students, or disciplining an adolescent daughter....Whenever I'm about to give up on a one-sided friendship, an annoying neighbor, or any other challenges, I try to remember the parable.  Making a difference in the lives of people around us - whether strangers or those close to our hearts - is priceless.  We may not know it instantaneously.  But even if we don't, it doesn't matter anymore.