Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: beautiful, Captivating, Eve, John and Stasi Eldredge, romance, self-worth, Wild at Heart
I’m reading this book for my ladies small group titled “Captivating: unveiling the mystery of a woman’s soul.” Its co-authored by John “Wild at Heart” Eldredge. I heard a few of my male friends tell me what a blessing “WAH” was for them and how reading the book made them realize how differently men and women were created, that difference is right and Godly, and how empowered they felt to be the strong, mature, take-charge Christian men they were created to be. So remembering all of that, I was very eager to read the companion book by Stasi.
The first chapter or so she hooked me. Christian women really need help learning “how” to be Godly women, uniquely feminine and set apart. I do know a few strong Christian women that are career-oriented and proud that they can be successful in the mostly male corporate world. But, that example is not really helpful for me because I have no desire to succeed there. I want to know what being a Christian lady means for me in my life and connecting with that at the root level. In Stasi’s opinion, at the core of our hearts as women are 3 heart desires that we’ve ignored, buried and cast aside.
- To be romanced: I’m not one of those super-girly, frilly types by any means. But, I was surprised (when I was honest with myself) that I totally agreed with her. What woman doesn’t have the desire to be pursued, desired, seen and appreciated for who she really is. Really, just to feel precious and irreplaceable to someone. I didn’t grow up with a father that was overly affectionate or demonstrative, so i had no idea what it was like to be ‘Daddy’s little girl” or called “princess”, “sweetie” or any of the other million endearing names that father’s call their daughters. But, I was really missed a step when I realized how true this was for me and how much I did want this.
- To have an irreplaceable role in a great adventure: I went to Louisiana on a Mission Trip with my old church about 2 1/2 years ago. Man, talk about adventure. We gutted a home, worked in the BOILING hot sun, helped paint a church and so many other great outreach events. There was a whole team of us, men and women, and we did have different roles and tasks sometimes but we all needed each other to get the job done. I think as a Christian that trip was one of the most gratifying experiences. Everyone had a role, everyone felt irreplaceable and we had to work together for the greater good.
- To have our beauty unveiled: Like I said, I was never a girly-girl but I do remember playing dress-up with my sister and cousins. When we would have big family events. I remember sneaking into my aunt’s bedroom and we would play with her jewelry, make up, shoes, etc. Now I was only 10-11 tops and I’m sure you can imagine how a 10 year old puts make-up on, but I do remember the reaction I got and how I felt. During all the “oohs and aahs” I felt pretty and confident. Like I could have whatever I wanted. Its funny now to think about it.
I’ve been single for a long time now and really until recently I did not have the desire to seriously pursue my future spouse. But, Stasi E. is right about one thing: Stacey L DOES want to feel beautiful in every sense of the word, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Regardless of the world telling us we can stand on our own two feet or we don’t need men to survive, blah, blah, blah. We’re not trying to act like men, so those statements are helpful for us! The true power comes with knowing how we are created and for what purpose. That’s one of our greatest gifts from God.
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I’ve just been reading “Captivating”, and it IS captivating. I want to feel beautiful to God and my husband.
However – one thing in the book is niggling at me. There are a lot of quotes from films, and that’s fine, I’m a movie addict, but there is one from LOTR “The Two Towers” which is totally inaccurate; it says that Wormtongue says “a hushed, tremulsome wild thing” which is nonsense. The words given to Grima in the film are actually spoken by Gandalf in the book, about Eowyn, and he talks about her feeling as though in a cage, “a hutch to trammel some wild thing in”. (I don’t believe “tremulsome” is actually a word so I don’t know where they got this from.) I’d like to point this out so that future editions can be corrected.
Apart from that, it’s a great book and every woman should read it!
Comment by khbs October 15, 2008 @ 4:35 pm