Red Starfish, Hold On

In preparing for YW Camp, I want there to be meaning behind every thing we do - even in the crafts and activities.  Here is the first of those:

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Nardoa frianti Sea Star, National Geographic

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MINI DEVOTIONAL/THOUGHT

The Red Starfish, Troy L. Love, Ensign, June 2004

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Main Thought:  “He loves you. Be of good cheer. Be like the starfish‍ and just hold on. He will take care of everything.”
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Note:  Please visit the link (above) for the full article, I simply took from it what inspired me.

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My companion and some of the other missionaries wanted to see the ocean after the activity, so I joined them. We stopped at a gigantic rock formation overlooking the sea. The sun was blocked behind darkening clouds. My heart felt as heavy as the gray sky above me, and I cried silently, “What am I doing wrong?”

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I began to share with my Father in Heaven the disappointments of the last few months. I felt my heart sinking further with every sentence. I gazed at the ocean waves, then bowed my head.
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As I looked down I noticed jagged black boulders near the bottom of the rock formation. The waves slammed against these rocks, swirled around with frigid bubbles, and then hurried back out to sea. As I watched, fascinated, my eyes spotted a small red starfish‍ hanging onto one of the rocks. Even though the cold water crashed against it with salty severity, the little starfish‍ did not move.
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photo credit: here

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Then I felt the Spirit whisper, “I love you. Be of good cheer. Be like the starfish and just hold on. I will take care of everything.” At last I felt hope. I knew the Lord loved me.  I understood that He has a plan and that I needed to exercise faith in Him.

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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland‍ has taught: “I know some of you do truly feel at sea, in the most frightening sense of that term. … It is not without a recognition of life’s tempests but fully and directly because of them that I testify of God’s love and the Savior’s power to calm the storm. … Christ‍ knows better than all others that the trials of life can be very deep and we are not shallow people if we struggle with them. But … He rebukes faithlessness and He deplores pessimism. He expects us to believe!”

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I realized that day at the beach that despair is not from heaven. Whenever I think about that red starfish‍ holding on under difficult circumstances, I feel my load lighten—not because the pressures of life are alleviated, but because I know there is power in putting my trust in the Lord. If we hold on, we will find peace.

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HANDOUT idea
Bake up a batch of starfish shaped sugar cookies.  Place each starfish cookie into it's own clear cello bag. Tie 'em up jute and a tag like this one:
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Starfish Sugar Cookie

from Sugar Rush Treats

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*CRAFT ideas - Starfish Inspired



DIY Starfish Cuff

This is the coolest thing I have come across!

I want one for myself.  :)

full tutorial, with photos, here, from DreamCreate

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Faux Sequin Starfish - Freezer Paper Stencil

This is adorable!

And such a great design.

tutorial and template here, from Ruffles and Stuff

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DIY Whimsical Starfish

I would like to give this one a try.

tutorial, with photos, here, from Miss Kopy Kat

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DIY Starfish Headband

tutorial here, from Reese Kistel

purchase here, from Michelle Shepherd - also photo credit

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Starfish Nail Design

Girls always love a fun nail design.

I love the colors!

found here, from Reese Kistel

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DIY Starfish Hair Clip

tutorial here, from Tiny Tangerines

another tutorial here, from Shabby Beach Nest

purchase here, from Michelle Shepherd - also photo credit

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DIY Felt Starfish

This would also make a great bean bag to be used for seaside games.

tutorial with printable template here, from WoolHalla

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Hand Stamped Jewelry with Starfish Accent

The girls could stamp words that help them remember the message:

"Hold On", "Just Hold On", "Be of Good Cheer", Believe",

"Remember the Starfish", "Be the Starfish"  :)

idea found here, from SoSoBella