The Melkbos Dad Who’s Making a Difference
A wonderfully caring father has been inspiring South Africans this week since a photo of his morning ritual became popular on Facebook, inspiring others with its Starfish poem-like qualities… The pollution-fighting Western Cape resident has become a bit of a sensation on social media since his proud daughter, Sonja Smith-Janse van Rensburg, posted the following photo […]
A wonderfully caring father has been inspiring South Africans this week since a photo of his morning ritual became popular on Facebook, inspiring others with its Starfish poem-like qualities…
The pollution-fighting Western Cape resident has become a bit of a sensation on social media since his proud daughter, Sonja Smith-Janse van Rensburg, posted the following photo and simple message:
“If you see this 77-year-old walking on the beach, please give him a hug and a thank you! His daily chores start with keeping your Melkbos beach clean… His name is Renier Groenewald and he is my father!”
The post has had over 2,700 likes and over 700 shares already with several people commenting on how similar his actions are to the young man in the Starfish poem (see below).
Every piece of litter on our beaches poses real problems, with wind blowing bags and plastic objects into the water. Just a couple of weeks ago, an SAPeople follower sent in this sad photo of a seal he had photographed that weekend with a plastic tie caught around its neck.
To Renier Groenewald, and all those like him who make a difference – one piece of litter at a time – thank you!
The Starfish Poem… by Philip J. Kocisko
One day an old man was walking down the beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a young man picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea.
As the old man approached the young man, he asked, “Why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?”
The young man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. The old man exclaimed, “But there must be thousands of starfish. How can your efforts make any difference?”
The young man looked down at the starfish in his hand and as he threw it to safety in the sea, he said, “It makes a difference to this one!”
At times in our lives, we are all the old man, the young man, or the starfish.
Sometimes, as the old man, we don’t see the purpose to actions. Sometimes, as the young man, we persevere and make a difference.
And sometimes, we are the starfish who just need a little help.