It was early in the morning. The sun hadn't risen yet. A little boy and his father were walking along the beach. It promised to be a beautiful day with a clear blue sky and calm seas. The night before, however, a horrendous storm had pounded the beach with fierce waves, leaving behind debris, seaweed and starfish.
The little boy, know that the starfish would die if they remained out of the water, began to throw them back into the surf. When the sun began to rise, it was drying the starfish and the little boy started to throw them back faster and faster. The parched, dying starfish were grateful for the cool, refreshing water.
Soon the boy's father gestured down the beach and said, "Son, there are hundreds, thousands of starfish. It doesn't matter. You can't save them all."
The little boy picked up another starfish and, looking up at his father, said, "I know, dad. I can't save them all." Holding up the starfish in his hand he continued, "But, to this starfish, it matters!", and he threw it into the water.
No, we can't build houses for all the homeless people, or cure all the illnesses, or educate all the children, or teach the Word to everyone, or treat all the animals. But during one week, IT MATTERS to the families who will now live in safety in their new, sturdy homes; IT MATTERS to the people who were touched by loving medical hands; IT MATTERS to the children who will grown up loving and caring for their pets.
IT MATTERS to the generations to come.
And IT MATTERS to you who are God's hands and feet here on earth. You have touched reality!