One day, a boy was walking along the beach with his father. Covering the spread of beach were thousands of starfish that had been washed in with the tide. The boy's father walked along, stepping over the starfish. The son walked more slowly, picking up starfish as he walked and tossing them back into the sea. His father said, "Son, why do you waste your time picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea? There are far too many for you to save. Stop wasting your time. Do you not see that you are not making a difference?" The boy picked up another starfish and smiled. He said, "Father, I have made a difference to this one" and tossed one back into the sea, "and this one" and threw yet another, "and this one", he said, freeing another from certain death.
I have always liked this story, though I do not remember where it originated. The starfish are helpless without the assistance of the boy. Their very lives are dependent upon his charity.
Are not the precious unborn babies growing in their mother's wombs so much more valuable? We can make a difference every day by praying for mothers considering abortion and by donating (if possible) time and money to organizations who serve mothers in crisis. We can make our voices heard by voting for politicians who will protect this very basic human right.
October is "Respect Life" month. While I think it is sad that such a month is necessary, necessary it is. Let us not cease to pray for an end to abortion in our country and throughout the world.
Eternal Father, I pray that all life will be respected from the moment of conception through natural death. Please change the hearts of mothers who are considering abortion at this very moment. Help them to cherish, love and protect the precious life you have entrusted to them. Amen.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Protector of the Unborn, pray for us.
