My dad came home tonight and he was very excited to tell me a story that he heard today. He was talking to a friend about my trip to India that is just around the corner. Through many conversations with my dad we have noticed a pattern…
It is hard to see some things that are realities in a lot of peoples lives.
The poverty in many countries is something you can never shake… it’s something you will never forget. I long to keep going. to keep helping. but sometimes I wonder am I even making a difference? Yet there are so many amazing stories that come out of the places I have seen, the places I have brought love, the hands that I have held, the smiles that bring hope, the realization on their faces when they realize that they are important.
even if it’s just one… that’s one more heart, one more soul that smiled, even for just a moment in time.
The story my dad told me tonight is as follows:
A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You cant save all these starfish. You cant begin to make a difference!
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,
Well, I made a difference to that one!
The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.
– adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley
Sometimes you need to just go.
Maybe it seems silly… but could it change a life?
Sometimes its someone across the ocean. maybe it’s just your next-door neighbor.
Sometimes all they need is a simple smile.
.
If you could see the gratitude on their face or the way they feel for such little.
They get so excited and I love that we get to experience it with them.
Sometimes they just need to know that they are not forgotten.
Sometimes you ask yourself a different question… like what do other people need?
Who is out there that you can inspire?
All because you want to do something that maybe will make the world a little bit better.
Are you willing to go for “the one”…
the one little boy that lives on the streets of Calcutta, India with his mother. homeless. watching as the wealthy go in and out of the ice cream shop with delicious treats in their hands. the boy that is lucky to have anything at all to eat that day. would you go and buy him an ice cream… if you could see that smile on his face just that once. a memory that will last him a lifetime. a memory that you will always have because you got to give Jesus a chocolate ice cream cone.
what about the two men you pass on the street in your car. it is pouring rain. all they have is small sheets of cardboard covering their heads and no where to go. the men that clearly have not eaten in days. they are too weak to work, but too determined to give up. would you help them? even if it meant just giving them shelter from the rain, or a single meal so they could keep going.
do you think you could love these people? would you be willing to give your whole heart to them. loving them so much that it hurts… and then do it all over again.
what about the woman that cooks everyday for the kids in school. the same woman that does not expect anything in return. she is there everyday… for them.
the kids whose moms are prostitutes. the kids with no fathers. the kids whose moms paint their faces because they truly think that it will keep away evil spirits.
the kids that don’t get food at home, but are given a bowl of rice at school. the kids whose hair is blonde when it should be black because they are so malnourished.
or the kid that you teach the English alphabet to but he just can’t seem to get the letters right. then you realize that was never the point of you being there anyway. you were there to give him encouragement. you were there to hold his hand and help him write the letters. even if you do it 15 times in 30 minutes. you realize that he just needed someone to pay attention to him. to love him.
what happens when you love these people, you give everything… and then you have to leave them.
was it all worth it? is it worth knowing that you changed a life… maybe forever?
I’ve had to say goodbye more times than I like. I think everyone can say that. No matter how many times we do it even if it is for the greater good… it still stings. though we will never forget what we have given up we owe it to ourselves to keep moving forward. to keep loving with all we have been given. what we cant do is live our lives always afraid of the next goodbye or the next heartache because chances are they are not going to stop.
i need some inspiration too you know.
i know that it is going to be hard to say goodbye to family and friends again.
i know that after 3 months in India we are all going to give our hearts to the people. people we will be able to call family. people we will love with all of our hearts. the same people we may never see again. and it’s going to hurt. really really bad.
the trick is to recognize that no matter where you go… there are always people who need love.
Im willing to go…are you?
LOVE WINS.
