🐧 Florence the Joy Bringer: Reclaiming Wonder

 


🐧 Florence the Joy Bringer: Reclaiming Wonder

A Teen/Youth Devotional

🌽 The Story

Mrs. Florence Penguin had seen many things in her life—snowstorms that sparkled like diamonds, ice caves that hummed with winter songs, and northern lights that danced like ribbons in the sky.

But nothing—nothing—prepared her for the sight of Chester Crow’s cornfield.

She stood there, feathers ruffled from her less‑than‑graceful landing, peppermint purse slightly dented, staring at rows and rows of golden stalks waving in the warm Midwest breeze.

“Wonderful!” she declared.

Chester blinked. “Wonderful? You fell out of the sky.”

Polly Partridge fluttered closer. “You lost your peppermint. You’re miles from home. And you’re… smiling?”

Florence nodded. “Of course. I’ve never been here before. And when you’ve never been somewhere before, everything is a gift.”

Heyday swooped in, notebook in wing. “Breaking news! Penguin finds joy in corn. More at eleven.”

Florence laughed. “Oh, Heyday. Wonder isn’t about where you are. It’s about how you see.”

Chester tilted his head. “But what’s so special about a cornfield?”

Florence spread her wings wide. “Everything! Look at the colors. Listen to the wind. Smell the earth. God hides beauty in the places we least expect.”

Polly sighed softly. “Maybe we’ve forgotten how to look.”

Florence smiled. “Then let’s remember together.”

📖 Scripture Reflection

Psalm 40:5

“Many, Lord my God, are the wonders You have done…”

God’s wonders aren’t limited to mountaintops or miracles.
They’re tucked into ordinary days—cornfields, classrooms, car rides, quiet moments.

Florence sees them because she expects them.

Matthew 6:28–29

“Consider the lilies… even Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like one of these.”

Jesus invites us to notice beauty.
Not create it.
Not chase it.
Just notice.

Wonder begins with paying attention.

Psalm 19:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God…”

Creation is always speaking.
Wonder is learning to listen again.

💬 Teen/Youth Application

  • Wonder is a choice, not an accident.
    Florence didn’t wait for perfect conditions—she chose delight in a cornfield.

  • Look for beauty in the ordinary.
    Sunlight on your desk. A kind word. A song lyric. A warm drink. A quiet moment.

  • Let curiosity lead you.
    Ask questions. Explore. Notice small things.

  • Don’t rush past what God is trying to show you.
    Wonder slows you down enough to see what’s been there all along.

  • Your “boring” place might be someone else’s miracle.
    Florence found magic where others saw monotony.

🙏 Prayer

God, help me see the world with fresh eyes. Teach me to notice Your beauty in ordinary places and unexpected moments. Give me a heart like Florence—curious, joyful, and open to wonder. Let me find delight in the small things and gratitude in the everyday. Amen.

🌟 Advice for the Week

If you want, we can follow this with a devotional where Above All the Eagle teaches perspective, or one where Heyday helps teens rediscover joy through humor and honesty.

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