Friday, February 19, 2016

Some wisdom from Anne Shirley


Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)

I’m currently reading Anne of Green Gables, and goodness!, why haven’t I read this book sooner?  Although sometimes I think a book can’t really speak to us until we’re ready for it, whenever that may be. 

 Anyway, I am loving Anne – this eleven-year old passionate, full-of-life-and-wisdom, little girl.

Early in the story the Cuthberts are trying to decide whether to adopt her or not (they were wanting to adopt a boy originally).  Here’s a snippet of their conversation:

“What good would she be to us?”
“We might be some good to her,” said Matthew suddenly and unexpectedly.

Our children are not our slaves.  Their purpose is not to serve us.  We are to serve them, through love and discipleship, through discipline and teaching.  Who knows what God has in store for them?  And He has given us the great privilege of being some good to them.

The rest of these are Anne quotes:

“I’m not in the depths of despair this morning.  I never can be in the morning.  Isn’t it a splendid thing that there are mornings?”  

Totally agree, Anne.  Joy comes in the morning.  Darkness, winter, night – I think those are all things to be thankful for because when the morning does come, it gives us perspective.  We understand that it won’t always be dark, it won’t always be winter.  There is hope.  God won’t always feel far away, we will find Him again.

“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.  Of course, you must make it up firmly.”  

Ahhh, yes.  A good reminder - everything begins with our mindset.  Something that I need to be reminded of often.  (Ahem.)

“There is nothing more to do except to pray and I haven’t much hope that that’ll do much good because, Marilla, I do not believe that God Himself can do very much with such an obstinate person as Mrs. Barry.”

Haha!  This makes me laugh.  But it’s also a sober reminder that God has given us a choice to listen to Him or not.  Just like with our own children – we teach and disciple, but they ultimately have to make the decision to be humble and teachable.

“Saying your prayers isn’t the same thing as praying.”  (I can’t find the exact quote in my book so it may not be exact.)

Yes.

I could keep going, but that’ll do for now.

I’m about halfway through this book, and it’s quickly becoming an all-time favorite.

What have you been reading lately?

8 comments:

  1. Thanks for reminding me of how wonderful Anne is! I think PEI people in general can lose sight of her charm, mostly because of the tourist traps built around everything "Anne" here. But they don't define her, the books do!

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    1. She is such a great character! I can't wait to read the rest of the books. And I did think of you when I began reading because I remembered you lived in PEI :)

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  2. I loved that book! And I look forward to introducing my daughter to Anne one day. :) I'm currently reading The Secret Garden, My Book House Volume 2, and How Then Should We Live?

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    1. I, too, can't wait til my girls are bigger and I can introduce Anne :)

      I downloaded The Secret Garden from audible recently (it was free after I downloaded the free kindle book). That's another I never read when I was young. I've heard the Book House books are so wonderful. And I have How Should We Then Live on my bookshelf. Don't know when I'll get to it, I have too many books on my tbr list :)

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  3. I read this when I was very young and sadly, don't remember too much about it. That's not to say that I don't know the story! I've seen the movie a bajillion times! I can't wait to read it with my girls. :)

    I just love the connections you're making. :)

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    1. I know, I can't wait until my girls read it! I've never seen the movie...how does it compare?

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  4. I really do need to read this book! My husband and I both love all of the Anne of Green Gables movies...the ones with Megan Follows.

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    1. Oh the book is sooooo good! I can't wait to read the rest.

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