Why I Am Waiting for Gilbert Blythe

I am OBSESSED and I mean, OBSESSED, with the Anne of Green Gables series. After reading the books and watching the movies half a dozen times, I think it would be safe to say that I am Anne Shirley's biggest fan. I am known to quote the book from memory whenever a conversation calls for a bit of Anne's romantic charm and sharp wit... which is an almost daily occurence. I have a picture of Anne and her beloved Gilbert plastered on the front of my laptop, an entire Pinterest board dedicated to the series, and an Anne of Green Gables vacation itinerary ready to go should I ever find the time (and money) to take a trip to Anne's stomping grounds in Prince Edward Island.

I could probably write an entire blog post on my passionate love affair with the series and how Anne has taught me so much about being a bold, intelligent young woman who holds firm to her beliefs and who sees the world as a beautiful place. But for now, I will strive to calm my "fangirl" tendencies and draw your attention to a character that deserves just as much admiration as the heroine herself.

Meet Gilbert Blythe. Oh, yes, he is handsome alright... Quite charming, too. He was the most popular boy in all of Avonlea. Boys and girls alike clamored for his attention. He is every bit as smart as our beloved Anne, having graduated from Avonlea school and Queen's College with the highest honors before becoming a teacher and later, a doctor. But believe it or not, it was not his wit, popularity, or charm that won the heart of his one true love. Gilbert gained Anne's love because he willingly placed her happiness and success far above his own. And that is precisely why I have decided to wait for my own Gilbert Blythe, no matter how long or difficult the wait may be. I have decided to wait for him because, despite being a fictional character, Gilbert demonstrates precisely how a man of virtue and integrity should choose to live his life. He is certainly not perfect (his boyish games in the schoolroom can attest to that), but Gilbert never stops striving to love Anne purely and with the utmost devotion.

Here are just a few of the ways Gilbert shows the world what true love looks like:

1). Gilbert is willing to sacrifice anything for the good of his beloved Anne.

When Anne's adopted father, Matthew, died of heart failure, Gilbert knew that Anne would give anything to stay on at Green Gables with Matthew's sister, Marilla. After his college graduation, he had been offered the teaching job at Avonlea school... A perfect fit for a young man who loved his hometown just as much as Anne loved hers. But he gave it all up and asked the school to offer the position to Anne, just so she could remain at Green Gables and care for a grieving Marilla.

2). Gilbert admires Anne for her dreams and always encourages her to follow her heart.

Later in the series, when Anne shared her dreams of one day becoming a published author (a rather controversial idea for a young woman living in the early 1900s), Gilbert was one of the few people in Anne's life that didn't dismiss her dreams as foolish. Instead, he encouraged her to pursue them, pushed her to keep on writing when her stories were rejected by publishers, and even gave her the idea for her very first novel.

3). When Gilbert realizes that he is in love with Anne, he takes the risk of actively pursuing her friendship and love.

Gilbert knew that Anne was the love of his life from the moment he first met her. Sure, he made a few mistakes along the way (teasing a girl about the color of her hair is NEVER a good idea!), but he always made an effort to show Anne that he cared. He made his romantic intentions clear from the very beginning and when Anne expressed her desire to just remain friends, he respected her decision and moved on. Thank goodness Anne eventually came to her senses and admitted she was in love with him, but the fact that Gilbert chose to respect her decision further demonstrates his integrity.

In a world where a woman's worth is so often defined by her relationship status, more and more women are beginning to settle for less than optimal dating relationships. And while I personally have never fallen into the trap of dating less than virtuous guys, believe me, there are times when I have come very close to doing so. Instead of waiting for a Gilbert to enter my life, a man who will pursue me with intentionality and authenticity, I tend to fall for whatever good looking guy happens to glance in my direction. Instead of waiting for a Gilbert, a man who will support me and encourage me in my dreams, I fall for the guys that could really care less about my future goals. Instead of waiting for a Gilbert, a man who is not perfect but still strives to live virtuously, I fall for the guys that seem to have it all together but, in reality, have a lot more growing up to do.

Sister, if you take anything away from reading this post, I pray that you take these words to heart: Don't settle for someone who still has some maturing to do when you can choose to wait for your OWN Gilbert Blythe. Trust me, waiting for a Gilbert is much less painful than the heartbreak of dating someone who simply cannot meet the standards of love that you deserve. Wait for a Gilbert and you will find a love that is founded not on personal gain, but a love that is founded on self-sacrifice, loving encouragement, and God-driven pursuit.

Here's to the Gilberts in the world... And to the Annes that have yet to meet them...

#relationships #love #menofvirtue