An Earth Day Pledge
Sometimes it seems like Earth Day comes into our orbit on April 22 of each year, then swiftly moves out of the reach of our thoughts. But this year, we encourage you to make a connection between your relationship to the earth and your relationship to your faith, a connection that will help you hold onto the spirit of Earth Day long after the calendar has moved on!
The concept that we (humans) were put on this planet to take care of it is called “stewardship of the Earth.” There are multiple verses in the Bible referencing our relationship to the Earth, including the “dominion…over all the earth…” mentioned in Genesis 1:26. This is a great starting point for your family’s Earth Day celebration – read through some of these passages and talk about how “dominion” isn’t just about being in charge of things, it also comes with a responsibility to take care of – to “steward” – the resources we’ve been given.
But what does it mean to take care of the earth? Create your own Earth Day pledge to make your stewardship responsibilities concrete and actionable. Brainstorm a list of ideas that your family can commit to doing in the coming weeks, months, and years, things like pulling recyclables out of the trash, picking up litter while you’re out in nature, and turning off the sink while you’re brushing your teeth. Choose 3 to 5 of your favorite ideas, write them down, decorate your pledge with pictures and fancy lettering, and have everyone sign it. Bonus points if you create your pledge on recyclable material, like a (clean) paper food bag or the blank side of an empty cardboard container.
While you are sifting through your recyclables, you can put even more of them to use with one of these simple, fun upcycling activities. Give empty plastic water bottles a new life as bird feeders or planters, create a miniature city out of cardboard toilet paper tubes, or make a found object sculpture out of whatever sparks your imagination!
As you work to honor your Earth Day pledge in the days to come, we hope your family will cultivate a sense of appreciation for the wonders with which we’ve been entrusted, as well as a sense of responsibility for doing whatever we can to take care of our planet. It’s a big job, but well worth it! And don’t forget to share your Earth Day pledges and upcycled creations with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
