Wives: Feminine appeal by Carolyn Mahaney

Today I'm adding 'Feminine appeal' by Carolyn Mahaney to the Master Reading List under the category of Wives (Available from Amazon).

When you walk into a Christian book store it is kind of surprising that many more books have been written specifically for women than men.  The female market is certainly saturated.  This can be a good thing but it also means it is hard to know which books for women are worth reading. 

The book for Christian wives and mothers that I most recommend is 'Feminine Appeal' by Carolyn Mahaney.

The whole book revolves around Paul's teaching to women in Titus toward older women: 'In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited' (Titus 2:4-5). 

Thus Mahaney draws out seven virtues from the verse for women and devotes a chapter to each:
(i) the delight of loving my husband;
(ii) the blessings of loving my children;
(iii) the safety of self-control;
(iv) the pleasure of purity;
(v) the honor of working at home;
(vi) the rewards of kindness;
(vii) the beauty of submission.

The book is theologically sound and well-written.  It is also easy to read as it is filled with helpful illustrations and practical tips on how to implement the virtues into your life.  The last chapter even serves to give a mini biography of a woman dear to Carolyn Mahaney herself, her mother.  Carolyn's mother is thus held up as a wonderful example for women to follow.

If you are a younger woman who wants to be taught by an older woman how to live God's way, then adopt Carolyn Mahaney as your temporary mother and learn from her in the pages of this book.