For wives who wish to be better wives, this is the book to read. The book focuses on “being there” for your husband emotionally as well as physically. It really looks into what being a “helpmeet” or “suitable helper” is all about.
The book focuses on one’s children too, and “training” children in the right paths, guiding them and encouraging them to make good and solid choices.
Another focus of the book is living in “grace”, making the home a welcome place, full of love. And finally, it concludes with “leaving a legacy”, living today with tomorrow in mind regarding your children and your influence.
As Alex and Stephen Kendrick mention in the foreword, “What if we let go of the baggage of the past?” The focus is on clarifying convictions, pursuing faithfulness to God, marriage, and children for the rest of one’s life.
Priscilla Shirer states in the beginning that this book isn’t for pleasure reading. She states some of it isn’t pleasurable at all and at times will be antagonistic and bring conviction to the reader. She is right! But, as she says on page three, she hopes the reader will continue on with her because she believes it is worth it. And it is.
This book will minister to women of various ages. The author shares a story near the beginning of the book about turning thirty six and speaking to a friend who had long ago passed that age. This book features important topics such as not hurrying through life, and that God is building our character, and it incorporates scripture throughout. The author encourages women to be givers and to follow God’s word in every situation. It is a practical book and deals with realistic challenges such as balancing time.
In the “Purposely Feminine” part of the book, Priscilla reminds women they are strong and vulnerable, powerful and yet tender. She encourages women to be what God made them. She also confronts the difficulty of submission to authority figures but how authority figures are in all of our lives, men included.
Priscilla has divided the book into three parts: 1. This is who I am. 2. This is what I have. 3. This is what matters to me. There are several subheadings under each section and includes titles such as, “Purposely Feminine”, “My Integrity”, and “Fulfilling my husband”. Priscilla speaks lovingly of her own husband, Jerry, and of following God’s instructions after some of the post-honeymoon “glow” has worn off. She mentions she has struggled with being overly critical at times and that men can be wounded and become discouraged from constant nagging. She knows her subject well. She speaks with the voice of experience.
We strongly recommend this book for wives and women of faith everywhere and, actually, all women. It is a practical book, based on scripture, and will give its reader plenty of food for thought. Since it does speak to women, we are recommending it for ages twelve plus and gladly award the book our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal.
