one starfish

I've wanted to share the following video and poem by way of encouragement for a few months now, but a dialogue thread in our prayer group makes me wonder if God might have had today in particular in mind.  It's so easy to get discouraged in caring for animals, with so much more cruelty and suffering looming behind every compassionate step forward, and often fighting our own limitations and insecurities along the way (Lord knows I battle them myself).

This short story might be familiar, it's adapted from Loren Eiseley's "The Star Thrower" in his book The Unexpected Universe.  Commonly known as the "starfish story," this version is set to gentle music and images, and reminds of the important truth that even one person or animal helped is more than worth our effort and sacrifice: 

The starfish story echoes a poignant poem from Emily Dickinson, "If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking":

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

I thank God for each of you who care so much about His creatures, those in your own homes and far beyond.  I'm honored by your friendship, and deeply grateful for the support you've shown me and not one sparrow.  And I pray that if you're in special need of encouragement or comfort, that God would be especially close and provide for those needs in a meaningful way. 

Please always feel free to let us know if you could use more personal prayer, whether in the comments, in our prayer group on Facebook or by email.

(thank you to Alissa Slack and Sharon Sigethy Coughlin for sharing the starfish video, and to Allyson Green for sharing the poem; photo courtesy my sister Stephanie Taylor, featuring my niece Ava)