I spent most of the day on Wednesday painting at Selma High. We've been having crews of people coming in and out all week to try to get 48 classrooms painted with the Saint's blue and gold. Around 10:00 am, a group of Selma High band members came in, ready to put paint on the walls of the classrooms they'd be sitting in come August. There was a pair of boys who looked a little too young to be walking those halls anytime soon, and I found out that they were tagging along with their cousin for the day. I paired up with one, a ten year old with the sweetest smile. As I taught him how to use a paint brush and watch his drips, he told me about the flat tire on his bike, and how he loves math because he's good at it.
At noon, the band kids headed out, and my buddy for the morning followed suit. Before he left he said, "I'm coming back all week!" I told him we'd be there waiting on him.
An hour later I left for a soda run, and as I was leaving the parking lot, I saw him across the street. I waved and he yelled, "Y'all still there? Can I come back?" He sure did come back and stayed the rest of the afternoon. I made up tasks for him to do just so he could stay around. He was a great helper and it was really special to me not only to have him be a part of everything, but to see how much he loved being there.
I was on the first shift this morning, and sure enough, when I got to the school, he came running down the hall to let me in the door, ready to paint!
Welcome!
Welcome to the Freedom Foundation “blog” – a place to read everyday stories from everyday people who volunteer for the Freedom Foundation. These are the stories that are the life of the events, programs and efforts of the Foundation.
Some people criticize us for the faith we have that makes us believe we can make a difference. Others ridicule the idea that change is possible. But it is stories like these that you read below and then thousands of others that remind us that making a difference in just one person’s life is worth it.
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out.
If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down,
picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
“I made a difference for that one.”
These are our “Starfish Stories”.
Some people criticize us for the faith we have that makes us believe we can make a difference. Others ridicule the idea that change is possible. But it is stories like these that you read below and then thousands of others that remind us that making a difference in just one person’s life is worth it.
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out.
If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down,
picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
“I made a difference for that one.”
These are our “Starfish Stories”.
