The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits by Rachel Dodge released in November 2020.
It’s charming, delightful, and wise.
Just like Anne of Green Gables!
Indeed, I bought five copies of the devotional. Don’t tell the girls what they’re getting for Christmas!
It’s perfect for kindred spirits–girls or otherwise– who love the books, the movie, or devotionals.
What’s a Kindred Spirit?
Kindred spirits are people who “get” you. They love the same things you love, share your interests, and are dear friends.
As Anne herself explains:
“True friends are always together in spirit.”
and
“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 of Green Gables
Over the course of the 1908 novel, orphan Anne discovers there are more “helping people,” to love her than she ever knew. They became kindred spirits.
What does that have to do with a devotional?
Who loves you best but God?
Dodge examined Anne of Green Gables to draw out spiritual truths from every chapter.
I’ve read all the books and seen the movies countless times since childhood.
This devotional brought to mind all the priceless scenes following Anne’s youth in Avonlea on picturesque Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Dodge took those scenes and applied spiritual truth and Biblical verses to explain them in a way I hadn’t seen before.
The 40 chapters left me encouraged, thoughtful, and thankful I grew up, as did my children, with such an excellent model for living.
Indeed, while the book’s author, L. M. Montgomery, didn’t set out to write a Christian young adult novel, she managed to infuse it with many Biblical truths.
Dodge pointed them out.
Who is Rachel Dodge?
A literature and writing teacher, Dodge is also the author of Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen.
I wrote about that splendid devotional here.
Dodge brought to Anne of Green Gables an affection for Anne with the spiritual eyes of adulthood. (She’s loved the novel since her mother gave it to her as a young girl.)
She designed the Anne of Green Gables Devotional with readers of all ages in mind, including children.
Each daily entry has a thought for the day from a chapter of Anne of Green Gables, a Bible verse to read, and a prayer to pray. I hope you enjoy growing in your faith with Anne Shirley!
To aid parents who may be reading along, Dodge posted a guide to match chapters in the book.
Dodge’s devotional highlights what is eternal about Anne’s story.
I wish I still had a child at home to read through this book with me.
What about the movies?
I hope you’re asking about the Kevin Sullivan films made in the 1980s and featuring Megan Fellows as Anne? (Forget the rest).
That’s exactly where I turned after I finished the devotional. (My books are visiting elsewhere).
Photo by Chensiyuan
(Wikimedia Commons)
We watched the first two (never the awful third), and smiled in memory all the way through.
My grandchildren have all watched those two movies (hearing how their fathers enjoyed them as children) and are knowledgeable and conversant with Anne, Marilla, Diana, Matthew, and the ever-faithful Gilbert!
I gave them to red-headed relatives when they were young and on sad days, one of them still curls up with the film and books.
The author and Anne’s legacy
L.M. Montgomery, the author, was married to a Canadian clergyman and authored many other books.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Anne’s story is the one that has reverberated ever since. Montgomery did not have an easy life, but she infused Anne’s character with lessons that can help us all grow into our challenges.
Millions of readers loved the book, including Mark Twain!
Twain said Anne was “the dearest and most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice.”
According to Wikipedia, Lucy Maud Montgomery was the first Canadian woman to be named a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She was invested Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935.
Montgomery might not have thought she wrote a great work of literature, but Anne Shirley’s life and story have well stood the test of time.
Not bad for a red-headed orphan who now has a book of Christian devotions written about her!
Anne of Green Gables is out of copyright. You can read a free PDF here.
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