The Starfish and the Butterfly

Butterflies in the Park: A Cherishing Life Fest was held Sunday, Sept. 7 at Halls of St. George in Schererville, IN.

One of my favorite stories is the tale of the starfish.

A young boy was walking along the beach after a storm, where hundreds of starfish had been washed ashore. One by one, he began tossing them back into the ocean. After some time, a man approached him and said, “Why are you doing this? Look at the beach, there are thousands. You can’t possibly make a difference.”

The boy paused, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the waves. Then he looked up and replied softly, “Well, I made a difference for that one.”

There are moments in life when we are reminded that even the smallest acts of love can create ripples far greater than we ever imagined. Loss and hardship can sometimes feel overwhelming, perhaps like standing on a beach scattered with countless starfish. In those moments, it is easy to believe that our efforts are too small or our hope too fragile.

But then comes that story. The story that reminds us of the extraordinary power of compassion and how one simple act can change everything.

This timeless lesson is one we see reflected at Butterflies in the Park, hosted by Hospice of the Calumet Area and our fundraising auxiliary Friends of Hospice. Each butterfly released is more than a delicate wing in the wind. It is a celebration of life, a remembrance of love, and a symbol of hope. While no single gesture can erase loss, each act of support, whether through a generous sponsorship, the purchase of a ticket, a volunteer’s gift of time, or simply a listening ear or a hand to hold, it brings extraordinary comfort to someone’s journey.

Like the boy with the starfish, we may sometimes feel overwhelmed. But his words remind us that making a difference for even one person matters deeply.

Together, as a community, we can lift one another up, one small act at a time. And when those acts come together, they create something truly extraordinary.

The lesson of the starfish is this: kindness prevails.

At Butterflies in the Park, each butterfly that takes flight carries with it a message of hope, a reminder that love endures, and a symbol of the difference we can make.

One life, one family, one Cherishing Life moment at a time.

One butterfly. One starfish. One act of love. It all matters.

Damian Rico is the Marketing Director at Hospice of the Calumet Area. The opinions expressed are his own.

*Butterflies in the Park 2025 was generously sponsored by Calumet Electric, Peoples Bank, The Times of NWI, Hard Rock Northern Indiana, Powers Health, Laborers 41, Chase Lowden Financial Advisors, Burns-Kish Funeral Homes, Dyer Construction, Adrianne and Chris May, Indiana University Northwest, Emcore, Strack and Van Til, Hillside Funeral Home, Rieth-Riley Construction, Dr. Gus Galante & Dr. Becca Galante, Nancy Corrie, Korellis Roofing, Inc, JMA Architects, Smits Funeral Homes, LTD, Iron Workers Local No. 395, Munster Chamber of Commerce and Leonard & Judith Schiller.