Be a gracious guest

We are each guests on this beautiful planet – Mother Earth – so the invitation is to be a gracious one.

One that you would invite to stay in your home for an extended visit.

The kind that goes out of their way to be helpful, kind, courteous and respectful. 

The kind that’s appreciative and joyful – maybe they even show up with a gift.

The kind that cleans up after themselves, helps with the dishes and brings their bed linens to the laundry room at the end of their stay.

The kind that looks for ways of contributing however they can and adds to the spirit of the home. 

The kind that leaves things better than they found it.

The kind you are excited to have back.

Otherwise we may all get kicked off – and rightfully so!

Would you allow someone to stay in your home who was loud, disrespectful and unappreciative? No.

They’d get the boot – fast – and by force if necessary.

This is why we have to remember the Golden Rule.

What if we each treated Mother Earth with the love, appreciation and respect she deserves? 

What if we showered her in love and gratitude and admired her and cherished her, every day?

How might she respond?

All I know is, we can’t keep taking her for granted. We can’t keep taking and giving nothing back in return.

As in all relationships – when things are one sided, eventually enough is enough and it’s either a miserable existence or it ends. 

We each need to take ownership and begin treating this beautiful planet as our home – our sanctuary – and realize that it’s a beautiful gift to be treasured.

I know that we can each do more than we’re doing.

… and some of you just need to start.  

Remember – she is everything to us – our food, our home, our oxygen. We can’t exist without her. 

We need her more than she needs us.

Each decision you make – and every decision that I make – effects the collective.

This isn’t just about you. 

It’s about all of your brothers and sisters – and the generations to come. 

This is about the trees, the birds, the flowers, the “beasts” and little friends, the butterflies, the ocean life, the mountains, the rivers, the lakes and every inch of this beautiful planet that we call home.

Let’s take pride in our home.  Let’s start showing our gratitude.

Let’s start taking care of each other and thinking beyond today.

I believe Mother earth will always be good, but we may – as a species – may not be here to know that.