This document is a children's publication about stewardship that includes stories, activities, and teachings. It encourages children to see themselves as seeds that can grow God's love in the world. Through stories like one about a chipmunk sharing its food with a hungry bear, it teaches that small acts of kindness and sharing have value. The publication is meant to help parents discuss stewardship and caring for God's creation with their children.

1. When you read The Mustard Seed…
Enjoy…the stories, poems, and prayers. Have fun with
the activities. Color the pictures.
Imagine…you are a seed. A seed of kindness.
A seed of caring. A seed of sharing. A seed of
God’s love. A seed that can sprout and grow
and bring God’s love and caring to your family,
to your friends, to your neighbors, to the world.
Believe…in your heart that as a seed of God’s
love, you can make the world a better place. God
believes in you. Believe in yourself.
Think…about how you might choose to be God’s helper
in the world. It does not matter how big or small we are,
we are all God’s helpers, his disciples, and God asks us all
to give and share of ourselves, and to care for everything
He created.
The Children’s Mustard Seed is designed to educate,
inspire, and empower children to understand the meaning
of stewardship in their own life. Parents can use this
publication to…
Teach…your child the importance and
relevance of stewardship as an expression of
Christian faith.
Nurture…your child’s generous spirit. Help
them experience the joy of giving and making
a difference.
Encourage…a sense of social and environmental con-
sciousness. Help your child see their place as caretakers
and stewards of God’s creation.
Empower…your child to see themselves as the hands and
feet of God in the world.
Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church
Stewardship Team Publications
15033 South Highway 13
Prior Lake, MN 55372
www.sollc.org
Phone: 952.447.2988
Fax: 952.447.2861
The Mustard Seed© Children’s Edition
Hey Kids!
This booklet is for you!
Hey Parents!
This booklet is for you!
Printed on recycled paper. Read and recycle.
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PAID
Prior Lake, MN
Permit No. 38
Welcome to
The Children’s Mustard Seed. Every
child enrolled in Sunday School at
Shepherd of the Lake will receive this
publication three times a year. This age
range (3 through 10) includes readers
and non-readers. Parents should utilize
this resource accordingly.
© Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church
Children’s Edition
The Mustard Seed©
A children’s stewardship publication of Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church
April, 2002
A
ll through the winter, the
bear did what all bears do
in the winter – he slept. He
had a long, long sleep in the cold,
cold winter.
When spring came, the sun began to
shine, warming up the world. The
snow melted. The river water began
to run. Now it was time for the bear to
wake up. He stretched one paw and
then another. He climbed out of the
cave that had been his home all
through the winter.
What do you suppose he wanted first
of all? Something to eat!
“I’m really hungry,” said the big bear.
“I wonder what there is to eat?”
“Maybe some berries,” he said to
himself. And he lumbered down to
the berry patch. But no berries were
on the branches yet. It was too soon
for a meal of berries.
So the bear
went on, looking
for something to
satisfy his
big hunger.
He walked down
to the river. But there were only
twigs and leaves floating in the river.
So he went on, still looking for some-
thing…anything…good to eat.
“Maybe some grubs,” he said to
himself. And he lumbered over
and clawed at the ground under a
rotten tree stump. But there were no
grubs there.
Now the bear was really hungry…
and really frustrated. He put his
nose between his big paws, and he
began to cry with a loud wail. Then
he started to stomp around in a
hungry rage.
He stomped so hard that it shook the
ground. Under the tree stump was a
tiny chipmunk who couldn’t imagine
what was making such a racket. He
came scampering out of his home in
the ground and saw the big bear.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
The bear looked down at the
chipmunk and he said, “I’m
really hungry!”
“Oh,” said the chipmunk, “I can help
with that! I have all kinds of nuts and
berries in my home. Before winter
sets in, I store them away so I have
something to eat in the springtime.
I’ve got plenty.”
He ran down his hole into his home
and came back carry-
ing in his cheeks
some berries that had
dried over the winter
and some nuts he
had gathered from
the trees. He dropped
the nuts and
berries beside the giant paws of the
bear and said, “Here, have some. I’m
glad to share them with you.”
Gratefully, the bear began to eat. But
he was a big bear. And he was very
hungry. The chipmunk was tiny and
couldn’t carry many nuts and berries
at a time. So he had to make lots of
trips from his home to the bear until
the bear had enough to eat.
“Well, little chipmunk,” said the bear.
“You may be a tiny animal, but you
have a very big heart. You have
been so kind to me.” And the bear
reached out with his giant paw and
gently stroked the back of the tiny
chipmunk. With the five claws on his
paw, he left five long marks from the
front to the back of the chipmunk.
“Now you have a mark of your
kindness,” said the bear to the
chipmunk. “Whenever people see
your stripes, they will think of
your kindness.”
So whenever you see a chipmunk,
you, too, can remember that gifts of
kindness come from a very big heart.
How the Chipmunk Got Its Stripes
Used with permission from The Giving Box, Copyright  2000 by Family Communications, Inc.,
published by Running Press, Philadelphia and London, www.runningpress.com
American Indian legends are sacred stories. They tell of the love of the earth,
the interdependence of all living things, and respect for nature.
Here is a story with all three messages.
“You may be a tiny animal, but
you have a very big heart.”

2. Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can,
in all the places you can,
at all the times you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as you ever can.
John Wesley
The Giving Box:
Create a Tradition of Giving with Your Children
By: Fred Rogers
(Running Press, 2001; $12.95)
This is an exceptional book that teaches the power of giving.
Through a set of heartwarming folktales and fables from many
cultures, Fred Rogers, of PBS’ Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,
helps children understand how the generosity
of one person, even a child, can make a
difference in the world. For parents, Rogers
offers suggestions and practical guidelines
for teaching children the power of giving.
The book comes packaged with a small
tin box to encourage children to save for char-
itable purposes.
Book Nook
Sharing
Has someone ever asked you to share something with them, and you said “NO! It’s
mine!” Sometimes sharing can be hard. It feels like giving away something you
planned to keep all for yourself. But sharing can be fun. Sharing can help others,
and make them feel special and loved.
When someone shares something with you, it feels great! And sharing something
with someone can feel great too. God asks us all to do good to others, and to share
with them what we have. Sharing doesn’t mean giving away everything that belongs to you; it simply means
giving something to help someone else. You can share your things, you can share your time, you can share your
money, you can share your love. What can you think of to share with someone today?
No act of kindness,
no matter how small, is ever wasted.
— Aesop
Do not forget to do good to others. And share with them what you have.
Hebrews 13:16
Sharing is Fun!
Coloring Page
“Be kind and loving to each other.”
Ephesians 4:32