Every Sunday morning, I go for a leisurely jog around the park near my home. While jogging, I always pass by a small lake in the corner of the park. Sitting by the lake is an elderly woman, who always has a metal cage beside her. I've seen her there every week, and I'm curious about what she does with the cage.
Last Sunday, my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to stop jogging and walk over to the woman. As I approached her, I realized that the metal cage was actually a small trap. Inside the trap were three turtles, unharmed, slowly walking around. The woman had a fourth turtle in her lap, which she was gently scrubbing with a soft brush.
"Hello!" I greeted the woman. "I notice you sitting here with the turtles every Sunday. I'm curious - if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing with the turtles?"
She smiled and replied, "I'm cleaning their shells. You see, anything that accumulates on a turtle's shell, like algae or scum, can reduce its ability to absorb heat and swim. Over time, it can also corrode and weaken the shell. I'm just doing my part to help these little guys stay healthy!"
"Wow!" I said. "That's so kind of you to take the time to help these turtles. It must be very rewarding to spend time by the lake, making a difference in these little guys' lives. It's a unique way to show your care for the world around you!"
"But don't most freshwater turtles spend their entire lives covered in algae and scum?" I asked.
"You're absolutely right," she said. "It's a common problem for freshwater turtles.
I scratched my head, trying to put my thoughts into words. "Listen, I don't mean to criticize what you're doing," I said. "But I'm wondering if your time and energy could be put to better use in another way. After all, most freshwater turtles live in lakes all over the world, and most of them don't have anyone to help clean their shells. So while your work here is admirable, I'm not sure how much of a difference it's really making in the grand scheme of things."
The woman giggled aloud. She then looked down at the turtle in her lap, scrubbed off the last piece of algae from its shell, and said, “Sweetie, if this little guy could talk, he’d tell you I just made all the difference in the world.”
Morals: even small acts of kindness can have a big impact on the world, especially when it comes to helping those who can't help themselves. Just because we can't fix every problem in the world doesn't mean we shouldn't try to make a difference where we can. Every little bit counts, and every act of compassion is meaningful, no matter how small it may seem.
