Love Song For Our Mother

Genesis 1:26-28
As a mother, I am a steward of many things. I am responsible for the food my daughter eats every day. I am responsible for keeping her in warm clothes. Because I feel that providing her with the best food and the most cost-efficient clothing, I give her farm-fresh eggs, organic fruits and vegetables, and I try to clothe her in second hand clothes. Not only is this good for her and the environment, but it teaches her thrift, nutrition, and good stewardship.
Wow. Listen to me! No-fun Nancy, at your service.
Except really, it IS fun. It's really fun being a steward of this earth when you can pick out yummy food from local farmers instead of Walmart. It's a blast to go thrift store shopping and find lovely treasures.
God put us in charge of this earth, and suffice to say, we've done a poor job on keeping up with its care. Oh, I know, there's debate right now about global warming and if it's a real threat or not, but that's just a smokescreen for the real issue: whether the earth is headed toward disaster or not, that doesn't change our responsibility towards it. It is right and good to buy less, use less, pay attention to where your money is being spent. Stop shopping at Walmart. Stop buying new when you don't have to...no matter where you live, Salvation Armies and Goodwills are AWESOME places to explore! Why are you driving when you could walk or bike?
Of course you alone will not save the earth. Even a group of us together won't do that. Rather, we make changes because it is good to live simply. We do it because God has made us stewards.
None of this comes naturally for me! I am by nature impulsive, impatient, greedy. I still drive to the store two blocks away when it's too cold sometimes. I accidentally leave the lights to my office on. I spend too much on hair products. But in the past few years, I've been able to get the majority of my wardrobe secondhand, and I've joined the local farmers' co-op, where I shop with reusable bags. I work hard to find a use for everything, and if I can't, I try to give it away or recycle it. Will I save the world? Of course not. But I might save me, a little bit.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us act today to care for your creation. Help each of us realize that you want us to leave the world healthier than we found it.
Thought for the day: When we care for the earth, we do God's bidding.

In respect and memory of Ms. Rachel Carson