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Sally the Starfish
Hi, my name Sally and I am a starfish-not just any old starfish but a very special one. If you have a few minutes I'd like to tell you my story. I'm sure you've heard the story about the little boy who was walking down a beach. It was covered with thousands of starfish that had been stranded after a huge storm. As the little boy walked he would stop and pick a starfish and throw them back into the ocean one star fish at a time. An older man stopped him and asked if he really thought throwing one starfish back could make a difference. The boy's response was that it made a difference to that starfish. Well, guess what? I can tell you for a fact that it really did make a difference and how do I know that? Because I was one of those starfish that little boy threw back and now let me tell you my story.
It all started out as just an ordinary day. My friends and I were hanging out on the bottom of the sea. We spent the day playing hide and seek among the sea grass and pin the fin on the shark. We were having so much fun that we didn't realize how far from home we had swam. It was getting late and we knew our folks would start to worry if we didn't get home soon. We stopped playing and started to swim for home. We kept swimming and swimming but we never seemed to get any closer to home.
All of a sudden we felt ourselves being lifted high up into a giant wave. We got excited because we thought that maybe the wave would take us straight to our homes. But, it didn't happen that way. Instead of taking us out to sea, the wave was bringing us towards the sand. We knew we were in trouble because our parents had always told us to stay away from the sandy beaches. They told us the beaches were full of creatures called people and that these people weren't always nice to us starfish. Naturally, since you weren't supposed to go to the sandy beaches, we were very curious about them.
Well, the next thing I knew the wave had thrown me and my friends high up into the air. Then when the wave pulled away we found ourselves lying on the sand. At first it seemed kind of fun. Here we were just lying around soaking up the sun but before I knew it the fun had stopped and I began to get worried. I was starting to get very hot. All my points were starting to dry out. All I wanted right now was some water to make me feel better. I tried to call out to my friends but my throat was too dry. I tried to wiggle one of my limbs but I couldn't move it without cracking it. O how wanted to be at home with my mom and dad but I just couldn't move. Now I was starting to get very scared. I didn't know what to do. What if I was stuck here forever? What if I never got to see my family again?
There had to be something that I could do. As I sat there baking in the sun I suddenly remembered something that my mother had taught me. She told me that I was never really alone-that if I ever got scared and didn't know what to do that there was always Someone there to look out for me. She said all I needed to do was pray to Jesus and I wouldn't feel so afraid anymore. I had never understood it before but I was pretty scared right now so I figured I'd try and pray to see if it really would help me feel better. I don't remember the exact words that I prayed that day but basically I just prayed "Dear God, please help me. I'm so scared right now and I miss my mom and dad so much and I just want to be home with them again. I'm so hot and tired, I just want some water. Jesus, can you help make this all better?"
I knew right away that God had heard me because I felt safe at last. I was still hot and tired but I wasn't scared anymore. As I was lying on the sand I thought I heard voices in the distance. At first I wondered if maybe it was God talking to me. Then a shadow came over me and blocked out the heat of the sun. The voices continue to speak so I looked up to see 2 human creatures (at least I think that's what they were). One was little with yellow hair and the other was much bigger (but he didn't have any hair all). They talked in some language that I couldn't understand but somehow, I sensed that I wasn't going to be hurt.
The little one slowly bent down over me until his face was almost touching mine. He had the sweetest smile on his face and his eyes were as beautiful as the ocean. Right then I knew I was safe. I felt myself being lifted into the air so tenderly. The boys touch was so gentle that I could feel his kindness. I didn't know how but I did know that God had answered my prayer and sent that little boy to rescue me. I heard the humans talking again and suddenly I was flying across the sandy beach and over the ocean-free at last from the burning sun on the beach. I felt myself dropping and the water from the ocean just wrapped itself around me. I couldn't get enough of it first. I just kept soaking in more and more water until I thought I would burst. When I finally stopped drinking and looked around, I realized I was only a few strokes away from home. Boy was I excited. God had answered all my prayers and I was on my way home to see my mom and dad.
What a party it was when I swam through the front door of my home and called out to my parents. Everyone laughed and cried (they were so excited I was home that they couldn't decide which to do).
Now, every night when I lay down to go to sleep I say a special prayer for the little boy who saved my life. So even if you can't remember my whole story please try to remember what I tell you next.
God made everyone special and He places them in different situations and He uses them to make a difference in someone's life. If you ever think you're too young (or too old or not smart enough,etc.) to do something that will make a difference in someone's life remember that little boy and the huge difference he made in my life. Because he cared enough to stop for a moment and throw me out to sea I'm alive today. I went out, got married and had lots of little starfish and I owe it all to that little boy-because he cared enough to do something.
Remember-you too can make a difference. Don't be afraid-just go for!
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