The Peppermint Harvest - a Florence, Chester and Polly story

 In the cozy, winding world of Maple Lane, these birds are perfectly suited for stories about community, unexpected gifts, and the "slow growth" of the spirit.

Since Mrs. Penguin is grounded for a while, here is a new teaching story titled "The Peppermint Harvest."

The Peppermint Harvest

The Setting: A week has passed since the crash. Mrs. Penguin is staying in Chester’s guest branch, and Polly’s pear tree has just sprouted its very first winter bud.

The Story: Mrs. Penguin was distraught. Her purse had burst during the crash, and her "Emergency Peppermints" had scattered deep into the mud of the cornfield. To Florence, those peppermints represented her security—her "sweetness" for the long journey. Without them, she felt she had nothing to offer her new neighbors.

Chester Crow watched her pacing the stalks. "They’re just candies, Florence," he cawed gently.

"They were my candies, Chester," she fretted. "And now they are lost in the dirt."

But Polly Partridge, watching from the stone wall of Maplewood Baptist, saw things differently. "In this garden," Polly chirped, "nothing is ever truly lost. It’s just waiting to be repurposed."

A few days later, the children of Maplewood walked through the cornfield on their way to the Saturday service. They found the peppermints—partially melted by the rain but sparkling like rubies in the mud. They gathered them up, washed them, and took them to the church kitchen.

That Sunday, the entire congregation didn't eat plain peppermints. Instead, they sat down to "Maplewood Mint Tea," brewed with the very candies Florence thought were ruined. The scent filled the sanctuary, drawing people in from all over Maple Lane. Florence, sitting in the front pew next to Chester, realized that her "loss" had become a "fragrance" for the whole community.

The Teaching Lesson: "Broken for a Blessing"

This story illustrates the spiritual truth that what we think is a mess, God sees as a seed. 1. Surrender of "Self-Provision": Florence relied on her purse. When it broke, she had to rely on the community and the Lord. Sometimes God allows our "purse" to break so we can taste the "tea" He wants to brew for everyone.

2. The Fragrance of Trials: The peppermints had to be "melted" and "washed" to become tea. Our trials often "melt" our hard edges so that our lives can release a sweetness that encourages others.

3. Community Connection: Polly and Chester didn't just watch Florence cry; they helped her see the beauty in the leftovers.

A Quote for the Maple Lane Journal:

"God can take the scattered pieces of your 'wrong turn' and brew a blessing that nourishes an entire neighborhood."

A New "Maple Lane" Prompt for You:

The Maplewood Baptist Bake Sale is coming up. Mrs. Penguin wants to help, but she only knows how to make "Ice-Cakes" (which melt in the cornfield heat.)

Write a story about how Chester and Polly help her find a new recipe using the "Pear Tree" fruit.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Quiet Assurance - Context and Devotional on 1 John 3:19-21

  That's a powerful and comforting verse! To understand 1 John 3:20, it's helpful to look at the verses surrounding it and the overall themes of the letter. Here's some context: Immediate Context (1 John 3:19-21): Verse 19: "This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence." This verse sets the stage. John is talking about how believers can have assurance of their faith and peace with God. He's emphasizing the importance of action and love as evidence of genuine faith. Verse 21: "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God." This verse presents a contrasting scenario. When our conscience is clear, we have boldness and confidence in our relationship with God. Connecting Verse 20: Verse 20 comes in the middle of this discussion about assurance and a clear conscience. It addresses the times when our hearts do condemn us. This could be due to: Genuine conviction o...
Read more

Hills & Valleys - expanded to a 6 week study

Image
Below is an expanded version of  "Hills & Valleys: Learning to Look to Jesus during Life’s Emotional Highs & Lows" prompt journal Bible study, with deeper weekly themes, discussion/reflection questions, and devotional thoughts for a richer group or personal study experience. You could easily use this for a 6-week church group, small group, or solo journal journey. 🌄 Hills & Valleys A 6-Week Prompt Journal Bible Study Learning to Look to Jesus during Life’s Emotional Highs & Lows ✨ How to Use This Study: Each week offers a devotional theme, Scripture focus, journal prompt, reflection questions, and practical application. You can use this alone, with a friend, or in a group. Set aside quiet time each week to invite God into your peak and valley places—and learn to see His steady presence in both. 📖 Week 1: The God of the Mountains and the Valleys Read: 1 Kings 20:28, Psalm 121:1-2 Devotional Thought: The same God who shows His glory on the moun...
Read more

Hope in Bloom - Restoration of the broken pieces of life

Image
  That’s a beautiful and deeply meaningful vision— Hope in Bloom: Living Everyday with a God-Focused Heart   is a title full of gentle strength and promise. Let’s shape Ellie and Reid’s story into a scene that also works as a devotional reflection—something with heart, scripture, and a soft teaching moment through story. Devotional Story Draft – “The Garden Wall” Inspired by: Hope in the Storm – May: The Garden of Her Heart Theme: Restoration through Community Scripture: Isaiah 58:12 (NIV) "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Scene: Ellie hadn’t cried when the wind knocked down the memorial wall. Not when she found the shattered terracotta pots, the wind-tossed ribbons, or the hand-written notes soaked and torn in the grass. She had blinked hard, clenched her jaw, and swept it all into a box. It was supposed to be a quiet way for people to grieve...
Read more