One of my favorite book series is Anne of Green Gables. The summer we drove across Canada and camped on Prince Edward Island, Anne’s home, I read the series as we passed the Lake of Shining Waters and the White Way of Delight. Lucy MM’s writing is superb. The words that come out of Anne’s mouth are hysterical! She is so full of imagination and wonder at every little thing… and highly dramatic! So funny!
Several months ago, I started reading a shortened version of the book to Nora, our little adopted daughter. I wondered how it would affect her, hearing about Anne’s heartbreak at not having a family. The book glossed it over pretty well and got right into the daily events on Anne’s life at Green Gables. Yesterday, I found the movie online for Nora to watch. It is over two and a half hours long so it took three sittings to finish it all. Nora sat on the end of her chair the entire movie! It was priceless.
This tentative look on Anne’s face as she waits for Matthew at the train station…. it’s the same one I saw on Nora’s face the day we got her. “Will they like me?” “Am I okay?” “Will they keep me?” “Will I be safe?” “Everything changes today.” WOW!
The movie does not sugar coat the fact that no one wanted the red haired orphan in the beginning. Nora didn’t say much, other than looking at me with wondering eyes and asking, “They do keep her, right?” I watched most of the movie with her, but never looking through the eyes of an adopted child until yesterday. She must have related to so much of the story. It broke my heart when the two women in the very beginning call Anne “trash”… good heavens. I didn’t even remember that part.
I understood a bit more now about how Anne wanted to be called Cordelia, hoping for a different life than the one she had been given that lead her to the depths of despair. Marilla’s line was superb, “To despair is to turn your back on God.” So true!
We’ve had two nights of reassuring talks that Nora is ours forever. That God never left her without someone to take care of her. That we prayed for her for four years before she was part of our family. That God chose her for us and us for her. I don’t think we can ever say those words enough. Ever.
My Sister's Jar 