Lately Sage has started to walk with me as opposed to sitting in the jogger, consuming snacks and water. It all started last week when I asked her if she wanted to wear her running shoes and walk on the bike bath too. She excitedly got her running shoes on and off we went. To my surprise, she walked about 1 mile. And, she would have walked further except I told her it might be a good idea if she took a break and drank some water. During our walk we saw lots of trash scattered on the sides of the path. I noticed it all but walked past it.
Then Sage and I went on a walk again. This time, however, we not only noticed trash, but we picked some of it up. There was a huge rectangular box that we were able to fit into the jogger and bring home to our recycle bin. Next time, we discussed, we need to bring bags so we can pick up more trash.
Julie Barnhill, author of
She's Gonna Blow, says,
The combination of our parental words, actions, and deeds will affect their[our kids'] perception of their heavenly Father -the Master Builder - over the course of their entire lives.
I ask Sage to pick up her own trash at home all of the time. We talk about how it's not "OK" to litter and throw snack bags on the ground when we are finished eating the goldfish. This time it was
my turn to pick up some trash and be an example to my kids. And I have to say that it doesn't come naturally -- this picking up trash that isn't even mine stuff. It interrupts my run, gets my hands dirty and adds time to an outing that already takes about 1 hr. Sob. Sob. Sob. As my uncle would say, "Do you want some french-Cries with your Whaaaaamburger?" Time to clean up God's earth, one piece of dirty trash at a time.
