Feminine Appeal

Just before I got married I read Carolyn Mahaney's book Feminine Appeal. I loved it. Whenever anyone comes into the shop looking for book on being a Wife it's the one I always recommend, as do my colleagues, on my recommendation! However it suddenly struck me the other day; I have very little recollection about what it actually I said; I mean I knew it was great but other than that it had all become somewhat of a blur! So I decided to re-read it and I'm so glad I did.  As I read it so much of it came back to me, but it was different reading it from the perspective of being married rather than preparing to be.

The book uses Titus 2 to outline seven virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother. These include topics such as 'loving my husband', 'submission' and 'working at home.' The book is counter-cultural as issues such as submission are now scorned by many but Mahaney explains each point clearly and from Scripture. This is not a book for those who live in some cut off cocoon; this is a book for women in the real world. We are given helpful advice on how to really love our husbands and children and how to be submissive to them as well as practical suggestions how to remain pure, kind and self-controlled. The picture she paints of the home of a Godly woman has always inspired me, she argues that taking care of the home is not a second rate job but rather a role in which we create "...pleasant havens for our husband and children, sanctuaries where we offer care and hospitality to other Christians, and gateways from which we extend the gospel to families, friends and neighbours." How I long to have a home like this!

The book closes with Carolyn writing about the life of her mother, who committed her whole life to serving her husband and family and creating a welcoming home, all with a constantly joyful spirit. This brought a tear to my eye; we live in a world where there are so many demands on our life and so often we don't serve the Lord in our homes with such a joyful spirit; but this is our God given role; and how we should delight in His design!

I love this book even more than I did the first time through- which is saying a lot! If you know anyone about to embark on the journey of being a Wife this is the one book they shouldn't be without! The only negative is the cover, which looks incredibly dated but there's just about to be a reprint with a new jacket.

Published by Crossway