Lessons from Anne Shirley

Back in the day I used to be obsessed with reading.  My mother would take me to the library where I would check out as many books as I could carry only to have her take me back in a week or two because I had read them all already.  My favorites included Little House on the Prairie, anything written by Lurlene McDaniel, the Goosebumps Series, and Nancy Drew.  Oh how I wanted to be just like Nancy Drew!  Flipping through the TV guide on Sunday night I found a blast from my reading past that was made into a movie...  Anne of Green Gables.  There are so many sweet memories that rush to the forefront of my mind with this movie.  I remember that my mom shared this reading experience with me.  And I remember that she, my sister, and I loved this movie. 

As I was reminiscing on a part of my childhood innocence, I realized that Anne Shirley had some very important life lessons for all of us including:

          "True friends are always together in spirit."
          Wealth doesn't bring happiness.
          It is better to have one beau in his right mind than many in their wrong mind ;)
          Life goes on whether you succeed or fail.
          Forgive people when you have the chance.
          The truth will set you free.  (Remember the dead mouse in the pudding?!)
          Being smart is better than being good looking.
          Wealth is not measured by diamonds but by happiness and love.
          "Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it."
          Ambitions make life interesting.
          What you bring to the world is what really counts.
          It's better to try and fail than to not try at all.
          "Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"

It is so much fun to look back at the TV shows, books, and movies I enjoyed as a kid and realize there were life lessons to be learned.  Of course I didn't know it back then.  I do remember one particular song on Kids Inc. that struck a cord with me when I was little.  The only lines I could tell you now from the song (playing in a sing song voice in my head) is "You can't judge a book by it's cover. There's so much more to discover." 

After watching Miss Anne Shirley and all her shenanigans, the thought that tomorrow is a new day kept repeating itself in my mind.  Tomorrow doesn't have any mistakes... yet.  How refreshing is it to know that despite the many errors I have made today, I get a second chance tomorrow.  Of course I am human and I will make mistakes tomorrow, but today's mistakes are behind me. 

Throughout the Bible God gives second chances.  The Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh; Jonah fled.  He jumped into a ship going the opposite direction hoping to get away from God.  The Lord sent storms that threatened to break the ship, which would have likely killed everyone.  In order to escape the wrath of God Jonah was thrown overboard.  He was then swallowed by a whale.  Jonah could have drowned after being thrown into the sea; there are many ways he could have died.  But God let him live.  After his repentance he was given a second chance to do God's will.  "Jonah got up and went to Nineveh according to the Lord's command." (Jonah 3:3)  The outcome of Jonah's second chance was that "the men of Nineveh believed in God." (Jonah 3:5)

In John 8, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus that had been caught committing adultery.  Knowing that the law stated that she should be stoned to death, they asked Jesus what He thought should be done.  Jesus answered that if anyone was without sin among them then they could cast the first stone.  The crowd departed as everyone had their own sin.  "He said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'  'No one, Lord,' she answered. 'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus. 'Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.'" (John 8:10-11)

And let's not forget David, a man after God's own heart.  David's family didn't think much of him as his brothers went off to war and he stayed home to tend the sheep.  Ultimately, he became the hero when Goliath, hit by a stone from David' sling shot, fell to the ground.  He was a warrior with many victories that threw Saul into a jealous rage.  David went into hiding in order to stay alive.  Then there are the sins that David is unfortunately so famous for... adultery and murder.  Now there is some great evidence that God gives second chances.  David did have to suffer the consequences of his sin, but in the end he was able to find peace and hope in his relationship with God. 

Jonah, a woman caught in adultery, and David all got second chances.  There are many many more stories where the Lord showed grace and mercy after people messed up.  I mess up every day; and I'm an expert at beating myself up for it.  At the end of the day, if I have any regrets, there's comfort in knowing that tomorrow I can start over. 

So, thank you Miss Anne Shirley for the reminder!  In the words of David:

Then I acknowledge my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. 

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"

and You took away the guilt of my sin...

You are my hiding place;

You protect me from trouble.

You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.

Psalm 32:5,7