Quiet folks are busy with attentive ears, and noticing the rhythm, and whatever is praiseworthy.  They take note of what the talking heads say, and what the writers are penning. If in a public setting, they only insert what might be helpful. Highly observant, they bring a calm and offer a soft smile of appreciation for the invite. Their impact is great because when they do speak, they have taken time to knit words of value together. Their insights are valued by those who do most of the talking, because they have made eye contact, and one knows they have absorbed the content and the surroundings. They take time to process information before they speak. The “quiet observer” is an exceptional:

🧡 God-Aware Friend
🧡 Listener
🧡 Humble
🧡 Sensitive
🧡 Patient
🧡 Kind
🧡 Wise
🧡 Creative

Buckle up, bookworm, because we’re diving into the lives of the Brontë Sisters, a squad of literary rockstars who weren’t your average tea-sipping ladies. Forget corsets and fainting spells, these girls took time to ponder the ways of the world, God and their brother. They wrote poetry and penned themselves into imaginary overcomers.

Brontë Beginnings:

Imagine growing up in a remote, windswept English village with your siblings as your only crew. That was the reality for the Brontës: Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and their brother Branwell. Their dad was a priest, their mom passed away young, and their imaginations were wilder than a Yorkshire moor in a thunderstorm. They wrote stories, poems, and plays from a young age, weaving tales of adventure, mystery, and romance that would ignite the world.

Charlotte: The Firstborn:

Charlotte, the eldest, was like a firecracker waiting to explode. She yearned for education, independence, and recognition in a world that tried to box women into domesticity. She defied expectations, studying, teaching, and eventually publishing her novels under the pen name Currer Bell. (same initials of Charlotte Brontë) The novel Jane Eyre is her most famous work. A coming-of-age story about a strong, independent woman who challenges societal norms and finds love on her own terms. Talk about girl power! “To Walk Invisible” is a great movie about these 3 desperate sisters.

Emily: The Romantic:

Emily, the brooding middle sister, had a soul as wild as the moors she loved to explore. She poured her passion and imagination into poems and her masterpiece, “Wuthering Heights.” This dark, dramatic novel, filled with forbidden love, revenge, and gothic chills, shocked readers and became a literary classic. Emily never cared for fame, preferring to wander the moors and lose herself in her writing, living proof that sometimes the quietest ones have the loudest stories within.

Anne: The Gentle Storyteller:

Anne, the youngest, was the quiet observer, always watching and reflecting. Her novels, like “Agnes Grey” and “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall,” explored social issues and the lives of ordinary people, tackling themes of poverty, gender roles, and morality with a gentle touch. While not as commercially successful as her sisters, Anne’s writing resonated with readers for its honesty and compassion, reminding us that even the smallest voices can have a powerful impact.

The Brontë Legacy:

Tragically, the sisters’ lives were cut short by illness. But their stories lived on, inspiring generations of readers and writers. They defied expectations, embraced their unique individuality, and proved that women could be not just writers, but literary forces to be reckoned with. So, the next time you’re feeling like the world doesn’t understand your wild dreams, remember the Charlotte Sisters, the literary rebels who dared to be different and changed the world with their words. Now go forth and write your own story, one perfectly crafted sentence at a time!

On Sept 6, 2025 The Brontë Society Conference will be held in Bradford, United Kingdom.  Paper proposals from Bronte enthusiasts must be submitted by 31 December 2024. Responding to the title “Remapping” using any aspect of the Brontës’ lives and work. The proposals will become a special issue of Brontë Studies.  Watch in awe.

When we finish our days on earth and we humbly stand before our Lord face to face — will we be able to ask, “Lord did I get it right? Did I resemble Your love, did I represent Your character during the difficult times?” Our Lord has given us all of Himself in the Holy Spirit. Our Father held nothing back! We are more than actors on a worldwide stage. As God’s chosen Ambassadors we are to behave with engaging joy, kindness, gentleness, wisdom and self-control. The Holy Spirit transforms us as we allow. For all believers the “Reward” for all eternity will be our Lord Jesus saying to us, “Well done My good and faithful servant.” Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”