The Young Man and the Star Fish

One night in the gulf, a large tropical storm blew in. The next morning a man went walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young boy and the boy wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"

The boy paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up, and the tide is going out. And if I don't help them they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"

The boy listened politely, bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "I made a difference for that one."

"I love you my starfish..."