Starfish

“You never know how far reaching something you say or do today will affect the lives of others tomorrow.”-B.J. Palmer

An older man was walking along a beach watching and listening to the waves.As he walked he could see a young boy up ahead who was throwing something into the ocean.The man stopped to watch and the boy would pick something off the sand and heave it into the water.Then go back for more.

The older man continued on and as he approached the boy, he could see that the boy was throwing starfish into the ocean.There were thousands of starfish scattered across the sand.After each one thrown in, the boy would pick up another and again, throw the starfish into the ocean.Starfish after starfish, he tossed them into the water.

The older man walked up to the boy and asked, “What are you doing.”The young boy replied, “I’m saving the starfish.Starfish need the water to live, if they stay out of the water too long, they dry up and die.So I’m putting them back into the water.”

The older man retorted, “Son, there are too many starfish to put back into the ocean, you’ll never get them all before they dry out.You are wasting your time.”

“I know” was the reply from the young boy, “I know.”And he kept picking up starfish and throwing them into the sea.

“Then why do you do it?It’s a waste of your time, what does it matter” the older man said.

The young boy reared back and tossed another starfish into the ocean.“It mattered to him” the young boy stated.He picked up another starfish “and to that one to” he said.

The older man sat down on the sand and watched the young boy for a few minutes.As he did, he thought about the innocence and love that was being displayed.Then he decided to get up.He picked up a starfish and tossed it into the water.

Who you are determines what you do.Are you the older man, or the younger boy?What one thing can you do today to change or improve?