It Made a Difference to That One.

There are an estimated 147 million orphans worldwide. 147 million.

We've talked about this subject before, about helping just one.  Caitlin had a post on ways to start. Just one way. Talia posted about the difference that one shoebox made. 

Just one.

But why? Why help just one? After all, isn't it just ONE out of 147 MILLION?

There's a story that has really helped me to understand this, and it goes like this:

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man 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 young man 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 throw them in 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 young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said- "It made a difference for that one." No matter what you do -- sponsor a child, adopt, give money towards an adoption -- it will make a difference to that one child. What if you were that child?  We may casually think we can't make a difference by just helping one, but what if you were that child?  You would never be adopted. You would live in an orphanage that could possibly never replace the comfort of a home. You might not have enough food to eat.  You might grow up without ever feeling love.  And if one person had reached out, your life could have completely changed.  So even if you can't adopt, if you decide to give to an organization or an adoptive family, etc.; just remember.   It made a difference to that one.

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