WHAT DIFFERENCE ARE WE MAKING?

There was a man taking a morning walk at the beach. He saw that along with the morning tide came hundreds of starfish and when the tide receded, they were left behind and with the morning sun rays they would die. The tide was fresh and the starfish were alive.

The man took a few steps, picked one and threw it into the water. He did that repeatedly.

Right behind him, there was another person who couldn't understand what this man was doing. He caught up with him and asked, "What are you doing? There are hundreds of starfish. How many can you help? What difference does it make?"

This man did not reply but took two more steps, picked up another one, threw it into the water, and said, "It makes a difference to this one."

What difference are we making? Big or small, it does not matter. If everyone made a small difference, we'd end up with a big difference?

I am reminded of the poem attributed to Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney:

Little drops of water, little grains of sand,
make the mighty ocean and the beauteous land.

And the little moments, humble though they may be,
make the mighty ages of eternity.

Little deeds of kindness, little words of love,
make our earth an Eden, like the heaven above.

So our little errors lead the soul away,
from the paths of virtue into sin to stray.

Little seeds of mercy, sown by youthful hands,
grow to bless the nations far in heathen lands.

Glory then forever be to God on high,
beautiful and loving, to eternity.

It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself.