The Story of the Starfish

A man was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been stranded. Left on the sand by the receding tide, the starfish were certain to die. The man saw a boy picking up starfish and tossing them back into the sea.

Hoping to teach the boy a lesson in common sense, the man walked up to him and said, "I have been watching what you have been doing, son. You have a good heart and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are around here, and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day?

Surely such an industrious and kind hearted boy such as yourself could find something better to do with your time. Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?"

The boy looked up at the man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, "It makes a difference to that one."