Sunday Solace

 

Picture courtesy of Pinterest 

Once a year, here in Ivybridge, a Quiz Evening is held to raise money for Children's Hospice South West.  This fund raising event was held on Thursday.  It is always such a fun evening and, because the venue doesn't charge,  and a local businessman sponsors the cost of the food for a very tasty supper, every single penny goes to the Charity.  This year, the magnificent amount of £800 was raised. 

The motto of the Charity is "making the most of short and precious lives across the South West".  The nearest Hospice to us is Little Harbour, just across  the border into Cornwall.  Little Harbour really is a home from home.  A place where each family member can find time and space to feel 'normal' for the duration of their visit. This includes mum, dad, grandma, grandad and brothers and sisters.  People often think of Hospices as sad places, whereas, in actual fact, they can be just the opposite.  

You may wonder why I'm writing about the Hospice in this Sunday Solace feature.  Well, the little piece I'm using today, is actually on one of the walls of the Hospice, and here it is .... 

The Starfish Story .... Adapted from the original by Loren Eiseley ....

"An old man was walking along the beach one morning, after a storm. In the distance, he could see someone moving like a dancer.  As he came closer, he saw it was a young woman who was picking up starfish and gently throwing them into the ocean.  

"Young lady, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"  "The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in, they will die," she said. "But young lady, do you not realize that there are many miles of beach, and thousands of starfish?.  You cannot possibly make a difference."

The young woman listened politely, then bent down , picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea.

"It made a difference to that one', she said. "

Perhaps there's a moral for all of us in there somewhere. If we all just do small, good things, then perhaps we, ourselves, can make a difference. 

This is my own starfish, painted by my blogging and Facebook friend, Eva. 

 

If you click on the column Featured Post on the right hand side, you will be able to read about a visit to the home of Doc Martin in Cornwall, with some lovely photos.