Mother’s Day in Mississippi is a day to celebrate all of the love and nurturing given to us by our mothers. Southern hospitality is being spread in many homes today.  In many cultures the earth is referred to as humanity’s mother. God created and placed us on this planet so that we could live and thrive. The earth is a living planet that has a symbiotic nature with us .

Mother Earth is our resource for the food that we eat. The soil provides nutrients for the plants that are grown. The raw materials in the soil combined with water from the lakes and rivers provide the ecosystem for the forests that have animals to hunt. Without these resources to sustain us the human race would not survive.

Through the years many of the forests have been destroyed due to greed and short-sighted missions. Mother Earth is not able to heal from the continuous wounds. Our existence is threatened by natural sources of food and shelter being damaged and destroyed.

Mother Earth is our energy source. Through the natural resources that live in her we are able to heat and cool our homes. Coal and oil from the ground provide the raw materials for the framework of our society. Because Mother Earth is a living entity God has provided sun, water, and wind to sustain her. These resources also provide energy for us through solar and thermal energy.

In the industrial age steam was used to power boats that carried people and cargo to all parts of the world. The steam engine transformed how people traveled. This technology enabled the people to expand into places previously thought too far to travel.

Solar energy is abundant and renewable. Use of the sun reduces the burden on Mother Earth and allows her to continue to renew other natural resources.

In the modern age oil is used to produce gasoline for our cars and in many other products that we use today. Use of this resource must be carefully managed due to its finite nature. Mother Earth requires an extended period of time to generate oil. Dependence on oil as the sole energy is short-sighted.

Mother Earth is the source of our building materials. Through the land we are provided with wood, clay, and sand. These materials are used to build the homes in which we live. The land renews itself through a continuous cycle of life.

There is a price to be paid for the use of Mother Earth’s natural resources. In return for the resources and nurturing that Mother Earth has given us there is the responsibility to take care of her. God gave us this  environment so that we may survive and thrive. Taking care of Mother Earth is the only chance that we have for survival. There are several ways that we can honor Mother Earth. We can repay her hospitality.

In growing our food we can rotate fields to let the land rest. Management of the land is important if we are to continue to feed ourselves. Overuse of the land has caused many crops to fail. There have been pestilence such as bugs and dust that overtake the land. Mother Earth is a precious living environment requiring our respect and care.

Poor land management contributed to the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s. This was a hard time for the people who lived through it. Many left the land in search of life’s necessities. There were others that died from diseases caused by the dust. It took many years for Mother Earth to recover.

We can look for alternative forms of energy that are in harmony with Mother Earth. The sun and wind are energy sources that are renewable. Proper understanding and use of these natural resources can provide adequate energy for us and the generations to come.

It is important to keep our water supplies clean and free of waste. We can take the time to dispose of our trash in bins instead of on the land or in the water. Fresh clean water is essential for our survival. Water is an essential nutrient for life on Mother Earth. There is a limited amount of clean water to drink. We are called to manage this resource wisely for all living creatures.

God has given us the great blessing of living on Mother Earth. He created us to be the caretakers of this planet. If we honor Mother Earth and maintain our part of her existence then the human race will continue to thrive. The choice is ours as we honor our mothers on this day.

copyright 2017 Debbie Pierce

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/hospitality/”>Hospitality</a&gt;

Daily Prompt: Hospitality