Feminine Appeal

Feminine Appeal

Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother

Author: Carolyn Mahaney

Publisher: Crossway Books

Number of pages: 157

This very readable book is an appeal to women to "recover the nearly lost treasure of God's way of thinking and living." It is a series of lessons that was taken from the author's lectures on "Transformed by Titus 2." The Bible admonishes older women to teach what is good (2:3) and there is a chapter for each quality that follows in verses 4-5--loving our husband, loving our children, self-control, purity, working at home, kindness, and submission in marriage. The book is written in a way that young and old benefit from it.

There were quite a few things that really impressed me. One was her emphasis on the grand purpose of Titus 2. It is not merely so that we have happy homes and see a return to "traditional values". It is much more than that and as she says it "transcends time and culture"(important truth for us in another land!). 'The reason is the gospel of Jesus Christ." We live the way we do so that others can see that there is a difference in our lives because of Christ.

The book is so full of interesting life illustrations and quotable quotes like:

"Most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself." (Martin Lloyd -Jones)

"The man needs the help; the woman needs to help." (Douglas Wilson)

"As many people were brought to the Lord through Mrs. Schaeffer's cinnamon buns as through Dr. Schaeffer's sermons!" (Mary Pride, The Way Home)

"If only self-control were as as easy as dialing an 800 number." (A favorite!)

The book was a challenge to me as an "older woman" as to my obligation to be teaching all the young mothers, young ladies and girls in our church these seven virtues. I see them being played out in my daughters and daughters-in-law and that is a thrill but for the gospel's sake I need to make it a priority to pass on the truth to those around me. I hope to teach them in my ladies' Bible Study next year.

The book was worth reading for me, if only to find this poem which I wrote in a book to Dad. It is so true:

If ever two were one, then surely we;
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
--Anne Bradstreet, 1678