After Lucky's return to the ocean, Jean recalled Karen's words -Help the turtles. She realized that to do this they needed a turtle hospital. In 1997 The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center opened its doors. They have been able to help 150 sick and injured sea turtles.
Jean realizes that eventually comes the moment to say good-bye to each one of them. She knows that she has to give them back to the ocean and back to God. She says: "It's never easy. But there's no time that I feel closer to God - or to Karen--than when I place one of these turtles in the waves and watch it swim off to make its ancient way in the world.
She also reflected: "Sea turtles are just one of the world's many endangered species. But they're MY species - the one I've dedicated my heart and my life to helping, just like Karen did.
By chance or, perhaps, by something more, a mother turtle picked my daughter and me out on that moon-lit summer night so many years ago, when she crawled out of the sea, right up to our doorstep on Topsail Island. Yes, God does have a way of getting your attention."
I concur Jean. If we but open our hearts to God, we will all find ways to appreciate this earth which the Creator has loaned us to enjoy and care for. We may not engage in an operation as large as Jean's and Karen's, but our efforts no matter how small to try to keep our planet pure and pristine will be efforts worthwhile making. These two women are special but we can be too if we follow the gentle nudgings of a Creator who wants us to care for and appreciate His earth.
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