DAY 24 – PICK UP LITTER OR CLEAN A SHARED SPACE

THEME: SACRED STEWARDSHIP

FOCUS: SMALL ACTS OF CARE THAT REFLECT LOVE FOR CREATION AND COMMUNITY

PRACTICE:

Today, take a few minutes to pick up litter in your neighborhood, at a park, outside your workplace, or even in your church parking lot. Or, if you’re inside, choose a shared space—like your kitchen, office, or classroom—and clean it with intention.

Do this not because it’s your “job” or your “mess,” but because it’s a quiet offering of love. Put on gloves, grab a bag or cleaning cloth, and approach the task as a form of prayer in motion. As you clean, ask God to bless the space and those who use it.

REFLECTION:

In a world obsessed with grand gestures, small acts of care can seem insignificant. But today’s practice reminds us that stewardship is sacred—tending to the places we inhabit is a form of gratitude.

When we pick up what others have left behind or clean a space without expecting recognition, we mirror Christ’s humble service. We create environments where others can breathe easier, feel welcome, and experience peace.

Was it hard to do this task without seeking praise? Did it feel like enough? What emotions surfaced—resentment, joy, pride, or contentment? Cleaning can become more than a chore when it’s done with love.

SCRIPTURE:

“Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters.”

— Colossians 3:23 (NRSV)

This verse challenges us to reframe how we view the ordinary. Even the act of wiping down a surface or collecting a candy wrapper becomes worship when done with a heart turned toward God.

PRAYER:

God of all creation,

Teach me to care deeply for the world You’ve made—

not just in theory, but in action.

Bless the spaces I touch today.

May my hands reflect Your love,

and may my service—however small—

be a light of grace in hidden places.

Amen.