---

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me stop worrying about little things! Amen.

"Don't be worried about having enough food or clothes," Jesus taught. "Isn't life worth more than that? Look at birds: They don't plant seeds and harvest food, but God takes care of them. Look at flowers: They don't make clothes, but God makes them beautiful. God knows what you need; you don't have to worry about tomorrow."

Adults always say that kids have nothing to worry about, just because you're kids, but you know better. You worry about big stuff like school and homework and friends and family; you worry that the cafeteria will run out of mac-and-cheese again before you get to the front of the lunch line; you worry that the kid who was mean to you yesterday will be even worse today. It seems like you have a lot to worry about!

In this week's Gospel (Matthew 6:24-34), Jesus says the opposite. He doesn't want anyone - adults or kids - to worry about life.

Most of people's worries come down to not having enough: not having enough friends or happiness; not having enough mac-and-cheese; not having enough understanding to get a good grade in math.

Jesus totally understood that, but He also pointed out something people often forget: There's help out there. Jesus said that God knows what you need and will make sure you get it.

If God made sure flowers are beautiful and birds can find food in the woods and fields, Jesus argued, won't God take care of people just as well?

That doesn't mean you'll get everything you want, of course. The cafeteria may run out of mac-and-cheese, and you may have to eat whatever they have left. Jesus' point was that, if you look for help, God will provide it: a tutor for math, comfort when you pray, friends to listen to your worries.

Jesus knew people would worry anyway. He just hoped kids and adults would all remind themselves that there will be enough of what you really need, when you really need it.[[In-content Ad]]

---