More than “Kindred Spirits” or “Bosom Friends”

As Matthew is leaving for the train station to pick up the young person they have arranged to come live with them, Marilla reminds him they have asked for a boy. They are both growing older and the work on the farm has become too much for them to do alone. There is a glut of orphans in Nova Scotia, so it seems to be the perfect solution.

When Matthew arrives at the station, the “boy” they have been sent turns out to be a slight, eleven-year-old girl. Anne Shirley quickly charms her way into Matthew’s heart. Marilla is much more difficult to convince; and Anne’s vivid imagination, flair for drama, and inclination to fill every silence with conversation nearly drives Marilla to distraction. Nevertheless, the Cuthbert’s decide to make a place in their home and in their lives for this peculiar young woman—and Green Gables is never the same.

While Anne of Green Gables focuses on the adventures and misadventures of Anne Shirley, her new wards, and the friends she makes as she moves into the community; it also presents a picture of adoption as the opportunity to experience a life that is full of promise. Because of her freckles and red hair, Anne thinks she is so unattractive that she could understand why the Cuthbert’s might not welcome her. In spite of her best efforts to do the right thing, Anne manages to make one profound blunder after another. She willingly admits that she deserves to be sent back to the orphanage.

In her imagination she has a fully developed picture of how miserable her life would be if that were to happen. Her dread of that possibility touches even the stoic heart of Marilla. As they all learn to live together as a family, we have the privilege of watching them each experience more of the abundance of life than they would have if they had decided not to stay faithful to their commitment to become one family.

Paul tells the Ephesians that, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (1:5). Perhaps you wonder if God would welcome you into his home. You may be afraid that some of the things you have done have ruined your chances of finding your place in God’s family. Let me assure you that God is ready to show you grace beyond measure—grace that will make you more than “kindred spirits” or “bosom friends”—grace that will enable you to believe that God truly is your Father.