From Sunflower to Son-Follower

Read: Mark 2:13-15; John 3:36

Reagan peered out the window, wearing her soccer uniform and munching on a sandwich. Dad’s car pulled up and honked. It was Dad’s week to watch her.

“Bye, Mom!” Reagan hollered. She slung her bag over her shoulder and ran outside.

“Dad! I learned something so cool!” Reagan said, plopping her bag at her feet. She balanced her sandwich on one knee while she buckled up.

“Oh yeah?” Dad asked. They rolled past the neighbor’s sunflower garden.

“What’s that?”

“See those sunflowers? Did you know they’re edible from root to petal? They’re used for all kinds of stuff! Like making sunflower oil, for one thing.”

Dad nodded. “I use that to cook with sometimes.”

“But the coolest thing about them is heliotropism!” Reagan continued. “That’s a fancy word for how a plant grows in response to sunlight. It’s easy to see in a sunflower, ‘cuz they actually follow the sun’s movement—like solar tracking! It helps the plant’s growth rate and use of light. Isn’t that the coolest?”

Dad chuckled at Reagan’s enthusiasm. “Sounds like you’re really into sunflowers.”

“I am! You know why I think they’re so cool?” Reagan asked as she took another bite of her sandwich. “Brehcuzz—”

“Hold on!” Dad said with another chuckle. “Chew your food first. Then you can tell me all about it.”

Reagan swallowed. “Sorry. ‘Cuz in church, I learned we’re supposed to fix our eyes on Jesus and follow Him. Well, Jesus is God’s Son, right? So following the Son of God is like sunflowers following the sun in the sky. We can be Son-followers! Jesus gives us life by shining His light on us and making us grow.”

Dad pulled the car into the soccer complex and parked. “Hmm. That’s some sermon, Reagan. You know I don’t go to church, but it sure sounds like you’re excited about it.”

“I am! Sunflowers are so cheerful—and I want you to have the joy of knowing Jesus like I do. You could be a Son-follower too, Dad.” Reagan looked across the parking lot. “Oh! There’s my coach. Gotta go!”

Reagan shoved the rest of her sandwich into her mouth, grabbed her soccer gear, and hopped out of the car. Dad watched her run to catch up with the rest of her team.

–Pearl Allard

How about you? Have you experienced the joy of knowing Jesus? Like sunflowers following the sun as it moves across the sky, Christians follow the Son of God. He fills us with His light and makes us grow to be more like Him. When others see His light and joy shine through us, they might want to be Son-followers too! You can become a Son-follower today by trusting in Jesus. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: [Jesus] saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Matthew 9:9 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Follow God’s Son, Jesus