Birds & Flowers: Do Not Worry
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like on of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”.
Matthew 6:26-34 (NIV)
This passage is especially beautiful for little ones because it’s full of simple, memorable images: birds being fed, flowers beautifully dressed, things they can see, imagine, and understand. Jesus teaches that if God takes such good care of birds and flowers, how much more does He care for us?
As a beautiful connection, just a few chapters later, Jesus doesn’t only talk about God’s care, He shows it. In the miracle of feeding the five thousand, Jesus takes a small amount and turns it into more than enough. Littles love this story because it’s visual, surprising, and joyful, and it reinforces the same truth: God provides. Nothing is impossible for Him (see Matthew 14:13-21).
Engage:
Invite your little one to look closely at the world around them. Point outside or show pictures of birds and flowers. Ask them to notice what they see.
“Do birds go to the store to buy food?”
“Do flowers pick their own clothes?”
Help them laugh and think about how God takes care of them anyway.
As you read Matthew 6:25-34, slow down and pause to ask gentle questions:
“Who feeds the birds?”
“Who makes the flowers so beautiful?”
“If God takes care of them, do you think He takes care of you too?”
You can even pretend together:
Flap like birds and “look” for food God provides
Smell pretend flowers and thank God for making them beautiful
Apply:
Talk about worries they might have like:
“What if I can’t find my favorite toy?”
“What if I forget my water bottle at school?”
“What if I fall down or get hurt?”
“What if I don’t know what to do at circle time?”
Remind them: God cares about every little thing in their lives, just like He cares for the birds and dresses the flowers. Even though we can’t see Him working, He is always providing and protecting them.
Encourage them to name their worries out loud and bring them to God in a simple prayer:
“God, I’m worried about… Please help me trust You and know You take care of me.”
Tell them a story of when you were worried about something and God showed up beyond what you could ask or imagine!
Repeat & Reinforce:
God Cares Walk: Take a short walk and invite your child to point out anything God takes care of, trees, bugs, birds, flowers. Each time they spot something, say: “God takes care of that… and God takes care of me.” (This especially impactful during the winter months)
Dress the Flowers Craft: Use fabric scraps, tissue paper, or colored paper to decorate and “dress” the flower. As your child creates, remind them
“Jesus says our Heavenly Father dresses the flowers beautifully. How much more does He care for you?”
Basket of Blessing: Collect small items in a basket (bread/Gold fish) share with the “hungry crowd” dolls or family, and reflect on God’s care.
Closing Thought
I don’t know about you, but this teaching speaks to me every single time. And our littles? They may not worry about the same things we do, but their worries are still real to them, and every single detail matters to our Father. From the very beginning, Jesus wants them to know they don’t have to worry because they are deeply cared for. To help bring this lesson to life:
Watch this fun 3-minute animated video
For even more hands-on fun, pair it with the activity sheet below.
Love,
Gi 🤍
Birds & Flowers Activity Sheet
Bring Matthew 6:25–34 to life in a fun, hands-on way! Page 1 includes a memory verse fill-in-the-blank, a mini maze, coloring space, and a simple prayer prompt to help littles reflect on God’s loving care. Page 2 features an I Spy Flowers activity where children search, identify, and color the letters F-L-O-W-E-R-S, reinforcing the lesson while building early reading skills in a playful, faith-centered way.
"Don't Worry (Matthew 6: 25-34)” from Saddleback Kids
