A more excellent Anne
Anne Bradstreet was a Puritan that came from England to the New World in the 1600s. She is the first person to have had a volume of poetry published in America, and thus considered America’s first poet. She reared 8 children, was highly educated, and supported her husband, then governor of Massachusetts. One of her poems, "To my dear and loving husband", reflects not only her devotion and submission to her husband, but also her faith and hope that while their marriage would end on earth, they would live eternally—as brothers and sisters in Christ— with their Saviour. She is one of the most influential and respected women of her time.
Anne Steele was a Baptist hymnist during the 1700s. She is known for having occupied both American and British hymnals more than any other woman. Though she suffered an accident in her childhood that left her an invalid, often being confined to her chamber, she was described as cheerful and helpful! One of her hymns, "Dear Refuge of my weary soul", contains theologically rich lyrics that detail her utter and complete dependance upon the Lord. She is a woman who modeled humility, grace, and contentment.
Anne Dutton was an 18th century Calvinist Baptist theologian. She is known as a prolific, though elusive writer, having written and published more than 50 books, letters, and poems. She was a friend to George Whitfield, Selena Hastings, and Philip Doddridge. She was twice widowed yet remained an incredible encourager and defended the faith with clarity, compassion, and vigor! Here, she addresses a friend who is suffering:
“Your afflictions are all measured out—in kind, degree, and duration—by infinite grace—and not one more shall you taste than what shall be for God's praise and your bliss! Therefore, give up yourself with the sweetest resignation to your all-wise, all-gracious Father's dealings—for all shall work to your salvation. Endure the cross—and look to the crown!”
Anne Shirley is a beloved, winsome and charming character introduced to us by Lucy M. Montgomery in the early 1900s in the book series “Anne of Green Gables.” She is an orphan girl mistaken for a boy and thus sent to live with and help brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. During her stay with them, she is transformed from an immature, insensitive and aloof child to a well-mannered, self-controlled, imaginative young woman. Anne’s character teaches readers about the trials and triumphs of coming of age, the value of meaningful friendship, and the joys of having “scope for imagination.” Her story is regarded as a classic in Children’s Literature.
These “Annes” are worthy in their own right. And yet there remains ‘a more excellent Anne.’
Mrs. Karen Anne Cleland Gray. Born in Stephenville, Newfoundland on May 25, 1961 to Thomas and Sylvia Cleland, Mrs. Gray is an exemplary woman of the Christian faith. She has been a mentor and friend to our family for years.
I remember first meeting her at her home where she and her husband, Mr. Gray, hosted Bible Study for Sovereign Grace Baptist Church. Immediately, she extended warmth and kindness to our family, welcoming us into her home and heart.Though we did not choose to attend Sovereign Grace at that time, Mrs. Gray remained a pen pal and faithful encourager to me.
As a new believer, I struggled greatly to understand what it looked like to be a faithful wife and mom. There were no older women in my life nor biblically qualified older women at the church we attended. I resorted to learning from the likes of Elizabeth Elliot, Jen Wilkin, Dorothy Patterson, and Barbara Rainey; women I did not know personally. The books written by these women were helpful and good, but I longed for someone I knew in real life to teach me these things, to put flesh on all I was learning. The Lord answered my prayer with Mrs. Gray. Initially, I admired her faithfulness to love and care for her husband ( always speaking of him with respect and admiration), her biblically rooted and joyful perspective on motherhood, her hard earned wisdom on homeschooling, and her sensitivity to the Lord’s ways with her. Over time I also came to cherish her soft spokenness, homemaking skills, sentimentality, and simplicity of life. She cherishes her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren. She cares deeply for her mother and mother in law. She loves and faithfully serves her local church.
We have been the recipients of this love in many ways, great and small. During the days when bible study was held in her home, Mrs. Gray could be seen rocking one of our restless children in her arms. She took care to speak to and address each one by name. On birthdays she sends a verse that she is praying for our oldest daughter and attends her yearly ballet recitals. In October of 2021, my husband’s father was kidnapped in Haiti. Five days later, on a Sunday evening, we learned that he was murdered. The following Monday morning, Mrs. Gray and her husband brought our family breakfast and prayed with us, wrapping her arms around my husband. This is one of our family's most treasured memories during that difficult season. As one who suffered the loss of her own father years prior, she comforted us with the comfort which she herself had received from God.
Four months later, my husband was admitted to the hospital for a week, due to kidney failure. She encouraged us daily with the scriptures. She and Mr. Gray, though busy with serving and loving their own families, took time to visit with him in the hospital. The day he was released—we had lunch with Mrs. Gray.
She has never been a missionary. She hasn’t traveled the world. She hasn’t written a book nor does she host a podcast. In fact, her life is an altogether simple, ordinary life.
However, she is reverent in behaviour, not a slanderer or gossiper, very thoughtful in her speech---often stopping mid-sentence for fear that something she is about to say would fall into either category. She is self-controlled, living an upright and godly life. She is not given to much wine— or rather any wine. She works at home, is kind, pure, submissive to her own husband and by her example has implicitly and explicitly taught me and many others to do and be the same.
Many “Annes” have done well, but she excels them all.
Is she perfect? By no means. I heard she once ate an entire bag of Cape Cod potato chips in one sitting. She is a sinner like all the other “Annes” before her. She struggles in various ways but presses on, seeking to make the gospel her own because Christ Jesus has made her His own. She is a fellow pilgrim on this journey to the Celestial City. One who has tasted the waters, and is looking back, telling our family, “it is good.”
Therefore, it is an honour, and an extraordinary privilege to name our 3rd daughter (6th child) after her. Our greatest hope is that the Lord would be merciful to all of our children, including our little Anne, calling her to faith and repentance, that she would come to know and serve Him with joy all the days of her life! That she, like her
namesake, would adorn herself, not with braided hair, costly jewels, or fancy apparel, but with a gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in the sight of God.
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