If you received my November Soulful Words email, you would have seen I'm (mostly) taking a break on the blog this month to listen and prepare for 2021. With restrictions due to the health crisis, most of us will be staying close to home this winter. While screens are not the only option to survive a winter lockdown, there is a place for them. Today I’m hopping on here to share some inspiration.

Last month my three girls came across the kindling for our next family adventure—Anne of Green Gables!

I was tickled by how taken they were by Anne ‘with an E' as they listened to the audio collection.

Their delight and questions grew as they flipped through the storybook my mom brought back from PEI a few summers ago.

I decided to present them with the DVD set I had tucked away.

After convincing daddy this was the perfect movie for a family night, or shall we say nights, author Lucy Maud Montgomery and producer Kevin Sullivan gathered our family together and shortened our pandemic winter weekends in November.

The trilogy Anne of Green Gables offers 780 minutes of entertainment!

It had been years since I had immersed myself in this story, and some parts were blurry. Does Dianna marry Gilbert? Does he die?

One thing I hadn't forgotten was the nostalgic film score. It pulled on all our heartstrings at the most tender moments, scene after scene. I counted my tear sessions as the eight of us snuggled together on our couches.

On weekdays I'd overhear my girls giggle as they reenacted parts of the story.

We haven't stopped laughing about Gilbert—clapping and bobbing his head when Anne performed her poetry.

This is the essence of what Sarah Mackenzie encourages in The Read-Aloud Family and at the Read-Aloud Revival:

“Making meaningful and lasting connections with your kids through books!”

Last year we intentionally read the entire Chronicles of Narnia series aloud together, and this season we unintentionally were swept up into the imagination of Anne girl.

This uplifting story affirms the position I want to live from in 2021:

Wonder

Anne approached life with wide-eyed wonder. Being orphaned left her sensitive to hurt but also sensitive to beauty.

“The world calls them its singers and poets and artists and storytellers; but they are just people who have never forgotten the way to fairyland.”

Her senses were alert as she absorbed the details of life through a lens of awe.

“...Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive—it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?”

Hope

Anne's hopeful spirit was attractive to all, especially those who had material wealth but felt poor in spirit and longed for her perspective. Spinster Aunt Josephine and old Mrs. Harris both longed for Anne’s sparks to ignite their souls.

“But really, Marilla, one can't stay sad very long in such an interesting world, can one?”

Like Anne, I want to inspire others!

Belonging

Belonging to a group of caring people matters to all of us, but especially to an orphaned child. Sweet Diana became Anne's bosom friend immediately and she welcomed many others as friends, including the cold headmaster, Katherine.

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

Anne’s deep loyalty to Matthew and Marilla, and their gracious care, grounded her life with a foundation of a rooted family.

Through this season of distancing and isolation, due to a world-wide pandemic, I am reminded that while I don’t need a huge circle of people in my life, I do need close connections to share the beauty and struggles with—precious friends and family who listen and love!

Love

Anne loved deeply but nearly sabotaged the romantic love she desired most.

From the day Gilbert Blyth teased Anne, unforgiveness almost cost the relationship.

“Anne, look here. Can’t we be good friends?”
For a moment Anne hesitated. She had an odd, newly awakened consciousness under all her outraged dignity that the half-shy, half-eager expression in Gilbert’s hazel eyes was something that was very good to see. Her heart gave a quick, queer little beat. But the bitterness of her old grievance promptly stiffened up her wavering determination. That scene of two years before flashed back into her recollection as vividly as if it had taken place yesterday. Gilbert had called her “carrots” and had brought about her disdain before the whole school. Her resentment, which to other and older people might be as laughable as its cause, was in no whit allayed and softened by time seemingly. She hated Gilbert Blythe! She would never forgive him!”

From wealthy Morgan Harris, to the adventurous writer Jack Garrison, Anne realized there was a place in her heart only for Gilbert.

After a long engagement, they had a quick wedding before Gil left to serve as a doctor in WW1.

The sequel unravels the tensions of war and the intensity of Anne's devotion leads her across war-torn Europe on a quest to find her husband.

Love takes courage. We all need Anne and Gilbert's love story because it reminds us our hearts were built for a story where love conquers all—a story written on each of our souls!

From Green Gables, through Lover’s Lane and across the ocean to Europe this movie marathon brings us full circle, to a little boy sitting at the train station where Anne sat many years ago—but don't let me spoil anymore.

Classic stories like Anne of Green Gables captivate new audiences while touching old audiences in new ways!

This Christmas gather those you love and enter into timeless stories that continue to connect you to your deepest desires.

Here's a sweet quote from Anne, because I know us mamas need to read this daily:

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it…yet!”

So true!

It was a gift for our family to share in Anne's adventures and watch as they became our own.

Share in the comments a childhood story that continues to influence or inspire you today!

—Quotes are from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.