
Why Do Sunflowers Follow The Sun?
06/27/23 • 18 min
Once upon a time, I watched the sun disappear! On today's episode, I'm sharing my all-time favorite story about the sun. We're exploring:
- Why the sun is so important
- How the sun gives energy to plants
- Why sunflowers follow the sun all day long
- And how in the same way, we can follow God’s light all day long!
Resources:
FREE Printable Summer Verse Cards
Eryn's New Book: Rooted In Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation
Focus on the Family Interview: Helping Kids See God's Glory in Nature
Scriptures Referenced in this Episode:"
Then God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." Genesis 1:3
“...God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5
“My eyes are ever toward the Lord... Psalm 25:15"
...so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.” Psalm 123:2
“In him (Jesus) there was life, and that life was the light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” 1 John 1:4-5
Terms Introduced:
Helianthus: Sunflower (Helios: Sun, Anthos: Flower)
Heliotropism: When a plant grows toward the light
Photosynthesis: A process controlled by light that puts things in a plant together to turn them into energy.
Chlorophyll: Responsible for a plant's green pigment, and allows a plant to soak in sunlight.
Elaborated Sap: The "super food" of plants. It's created when sunlight, through chlorophyll, turns the minerals from water and carbon dioxide from air into a plant's sugars.
Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Order The Nature of Rest
Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
Once upon a time, I watched the sun disappear! On today's episode, I'm sharing my all-time favorite story about the sun. We're exploring:
- Why the sun is so important
- How the sun gives energy to plants
- Why sunflowers follow the sun all day long
- And how in the same way, we can follow God’s light all day long!
Resources:
FREE Printable Summer Verse Cards
Eryn's New Book: Rooted In Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation
Focus on the Family Interview: Helping Kids See God's Glory in Nature
Scriptures Referenced in this Episode:"
Then God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." Genesis 1:3
“...God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5
“My eyes are ever toward the Lord... Psalm 25:15"
...so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.” Psalm 123:2
“In him (Jesus) there was life, and that life was the light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” 1 John 1:4-5
Terms Introduced:
Helianthus: Sunflower (Helios: Sun, Anthos: Flower)
Heliotropism: When a plant grows toward the light
Photosynthesis: A process controlled by light that puts things in a plant together to turn them into energy.
Chlorophyll: Responsible for a plant's green pigment, and allows a plant to soak in sunlight.
Elaborated Sap: The "super food" of plants. It's created when sunlight, through chlorophyll, turns the minerals from water and carbon dioxide from air into a plant's sugars.
Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Order The Nature of Rest
Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
Previous Episode

A Roly-Poly Isn't a Bug! And Other Things That Aren't Always What They Seem
Have you ever held a roly-poly? My kids and I recently became roly-poly trainers! We made some fun observations and today we're exploring:
- The fascinating life of a roly-poly
- What really is a roly-poly?
- Are there things in nature that aren't what they seem?
- Are there words we use and hear that aren't what they seem?
- How can we trace words and things in nature back to their identities?
Note for parents and caregivers: This episode breaks down the concept of "Linguistic Theft." A very helpful read on this is in the book Mama Bear Apologetics, Chapter 4: Linguistic Theft.
Scriptures & Quotes Referenced in this Episode:
“God is love.” 1 John 4:8
“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you.” John 13:34“the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” Mark 10:45
“The solid world (that is, nature), exists. It’s laws do not change. Stones are hard. Water is wet.” George Orwell, 1984
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” John 14:6
“We are called to be loving, but in love we should recognize and point out false definitions. Disagreement does no equal hate.” Hillary Morgan Ferrer, Mama Bear Apologetics
“We will speak the truth in love.” Ephesians 4:15
“Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, but answer in a gentle way and with respect.” 1 Peter 3:15
Resources:
Eryn's New Book: Rooted In Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation
Mentioned in this episode:
Order The Nature of Rest
Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
Next Episode

Are All Black Bears Black?
Have you ever seen a bear in the wild? If so, what color was it? I once saw a bear fishing in the river, and its color surprised me! On this episode, we're exploring:
- Are all black bears black?
- How did the black bear get its name?
- How are black bears designed to thrive where they live?
- Likewise, how does God give us what we need to live well and follow him?
Resources:
Eryn's New Book: Rooted In Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation
The Burgess Animal Book for Children
(Note, the Burgess book is not faith-based and uses "Mother Nature" as a main character. However, it's a lovely book that helps kids learn and remember the details of amazing creatures God has made)
Scriptures Referenced in this Episode:
"You make springs pour into the ravines; they flow between the mountains. They water all the wild animals; the wild donkeys come there to drink. Wild birds make nests by the water; they sing among the tree branches. You water the mountains from above. The earth is full of the things you made. O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures." Psalm 104:10-13, 24
"Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God.” 2 Peter 1:3
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
"Look at the birds in the air. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.
And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don’t have so little faith! Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ The people who don’t know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well." Matthew 6:26-33
Terms Introduced:
Recessive gene: A gene that can be passed on by both parents to a child, or in a bear's case, a cub. It can be responsible for a child born with red hair, or a black bear born with white fur.
Hyperphagia: Extreme unsatisfied desire to eat. Bears go through a stage of Hyperphagia when storing up fat before they nam in colder months.
Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Order The Nature of Rest
Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
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