You are absolutely right. Anne provides the best commonplace quotes. Here’s the one I currently have up in big curly letters on a blackboard:
“What a splendid day! Isn't it good just to be alive on a day like this? I pity the people who aren't born yet for missing it. They may have good days of course, but they'll never have this one.”
What a beautiful piece, Elise. I probably read Anne of Green Gables 20-30 times as a child; I was so worried that when I read it for the first time as an adult it wouldn’t be quite as good; I was wrong. It was, somehow, even better then I remembered it. Such a beautiful, hopeful story. Thank you for your writing on hope!
Thank you! And that’s a wonderful reading childhood it sounds like. Revisiting children’s books and finding out they still hold up is so special as an adult-I keep getting excited for when I can share my favorites with my kids!
Funny Substack should suggest you to me today. I just finished the audiobook and watched the 1st part of the 1985 movie Anne of Green Gables. I had read the book and watched the movie when I was much younger but I think now I have really discovered Anne and she will be a friend for life. There’s so many beautiful life lessons and examples of how, or how not, to deal with difficult circumstances. Lovely writing.
Love the providential recommendation! I can imagine Anne must make a lovely audiobook with how beautiful the writing is. And I need to watch the 1985 version-just want to do it without an additional subscription service if possible. It’s wonderful how we can return to books again and again and find that they are more meaningful and needed each time!
This is beautiful! I find so much of what you say relatable, in that I have been able to find a small scrap of hope - much of it owing to books and stories I've read - and cling to it with all my might! Sometimes - in the face of life's very difficult and seemingly impossible circumstances - hope feels radical and stubborn. But hope I must.
Persevering in prayer and holding onto hope, Melisa
I should add that two children's books I recently read as an adult - The Secret Garden and A Little Princess - gave me hope. (A Little Princess I just read aloud to my two youngest daughters and they loved it too.) What a gift it is to share these treasures with my children.
Thank you! I’m so glad that there are others out there clinging to hope one book at a time! Radical and stubborn hope-I love that. And both of those books are special to me. My copy of “A Little Princess” is beautifully illustrated and was given to me on my 8th birthday by my parents, who wrote a lovely note inside.
This is such a beautiful and encouraging piece. Really, it is convicting actually, as I now have a little girl that I too do not want to burden with my "world-weariness".
By the way, off-topic, but I am an FGR grad as is my husband. You didn't teach me but I remember you being a teacher while I was there. I've enjoyed your writing for a while now and just wanted to mention this little connection. God bless you!
Thank you! I’m so glad it struck you. It’s a constant fight-but God gives us the grace! And that’s so fun. Your name definitely rings a bell. Do you have a brother named Luke? If so I’m pretty sure I taught him! (If not I’m blaming it on Mom brain). So glad you reached out and that you’re writing too-it warns an English teachers heart!
This was such a lovely, and needed, read! I also encountered Anne primarily in adulthood and she brought the same wonder, enchantment, and Hope into my life. I often think of a quote of Audrey Hepburn's -- "Anyone who does not believe in miracles is not a realist." We like to think the harsh, violent, awful world is the "real" thing but we have so, so many examples to the contrary -- it can just be hard to remember that sometimes. Anne helps!
And no need to thank me - I truly enjoy your writing and am so glad you're sharing it! Cheers to fireplaces and books (and you're amazing for functioning with small children without coffee -- I am completely reliant on it!)
Thank you! I’m so happy to read that. Glad other adults are enjoying her as much as I am. And that’s a great quote/so true. You are too kind! And I wish I liked coffee-I could really use it. I just can’t stand the taste (or smell) unless it’s buried in chocolate, and chocolate currently upsets baby’s tummy when I have it. Trying to develop a tea habit instead haha
You are absolutely right. Anne provides the best commonplace quotes. Here’s the one I currently have up in big curly letters on a blackboard:
“What a splendid day! Isn't it good just to be alive on a day like this? I pity the people who aren't born yet for missing it. They may have good days of course, but they'll never have this one.”
She helps me live life better.
That’s an excellent Anne quote. More of us should live our lives thinking “What would Anne do?” 😆
What a beautiful piece, Elise. I probably read Anne of Green Gables 20-30 times as a child; I was so worried that when I read it for the first time as an adult it wouldn’t be quite as good; I was wrong. It was, somehow, even better then I remembered it. Such a beautiful, hopeful story. Thank you for your writing on hope!
Thank you! And that’s a wonderful reading childhood it sounds like. Revisiting children’s books and finding out they still hold up is so special as an adult-I keep getting excited for when I can share my favorites with my kids!
Funny Substack should suggest you to me today. I just finished the audiobook and watched the 1st part of the 1985 movie Anne of Green Gables. I had read the book and watched the movie when I was much younger but I think now I have really discovered Anne and she will be a friend for life. There’s so many beautiful life lessons and examples of how, or how not, to deal with difficult circumstances. Lovely writing.
Love the providential recommendation! I can imagine Anne must make a lovely audiobook with how beautiful the writing is. And I need to watch the 1985 version-just want to do it without an additional subscription service if possible. It’s wonderful how we can return to books again and again and find that they are more meaningful and needed each time!
This is beautiful! I find so much of what you say relatable, in that I have been able to find a small scrap of hope - much of it owing to books and stories I've read - and cling to it with all my might! Sometimes - in the face of life's very difficult and seemingly impossible circumstances - hope feels radical and stubborn. But hope I must.
Persevering in prayer and holding onto hope, Melisa
I should add that two children's books I recently read as an adult - The Secret Garden and A Little Princess - gave me hope. (A Little Princess I just read aloud to my two youngest daughters and they loved it too.) What a gift it is to share these treasures with my children.
Thank you! I’m so glad that there are others out there clinging to hope one book at a time! Radical and stubborn hope-I love that. And both of those books are special to me. My copy of “A Little Princess” is beautifully illustrated and was given to me on my 8th birthday by my parents, who wrote a lovely note inside.
Oh yes, know that you are not alone in clinging to hope. That copy of A Little Princess is a treasure I'm sure you cherish.
This is such a beautiful and encouraging piece. Really, it is convicting actually, as I now have a little girl that I too do not want to burden with my "world-weariness".
By the way, off-topic, but I am an FGR grad as is my husband. You didn't teach me but I remember you being a teacher while I was there. I've enjoyed your writing for a while now and just wanted to mention this little connection. God bless you!
Thank you! I’m so glad it struck you. It’s a constant fight-but God gives us the grace! And that’s so fun. Your name definitely rings a bell. Do you have a brother named Luke? If so I’m pretty sure I taught him! (If not I’m blaming it on Mom brain). So glad you reached out and that you’re writing too-it warns an English teachers heart!
The Luke you're remembering is actually my husband! Estey is my married name. I think you did teach him but I will ask him later. :)
Oh duh. Of course! Look forward to hearing.
*warms
This was such a lovely, and needed, read! I also encountered Anne primarily in adulthood and she brought the same wonder, enchantment, and Hope into my life. I often think of a quote of Audrey Hepburn's -- "Anyone who does not believe in miracles is not a realist." We like to think the harsh, violent, awful world is the "real" thing but we have so, so many examples to the contrary -- it can just be hard to remember that sometimes. Anne helps!
And no need to thank me - I truly enjoy your writing and am so glad you're sharing it! Cheers to fireplaces and books (and you're amazing for functioning with small children without coffee -- I am completely reliant on it!)
Thank you! I’m so happy to read that. Glad other adults are enjoying her as much as I am. And that’s a great quote/so true. You are too kind! And I wish I liked coffee-I could really use it. I just can’t stand the taste (or smell) unless it’s buried in chocolate, and chocolate currently upsets baby’s tummy when I have it. Trying to develop a tea habit instead haha