The Fruit of Her Hands: Respect and the Christian Woman

I read this in a ladies Bible study I attended, and I would highly recommend it for single and dating women as well. As a single woman, it gave me a picture of what I want to be as a godly wife someday, things that I can start working on now. But it also gave me a picture of the kind of man I want to marry while I'm still choosing a husband. I want a man who will step up and be the leader that God calls him to be, not only in marriage, but in a dating/engagement relationship too. Now I understand what that looks like and can be more discerning.Nancy did an excellent job of illustrating what submission does and doesn't look like. Contrary to the smart remarks of a previous reviewer, submission doesn't mean taking beatings and popping out children.It doesn't mean being a doormat or a slave. A submissive wife isn't the same as a controlled wife. Godly submission is out of love and respect, and obedience to God. Control is submitting out of fear, which is definitely not godly. It means helping your husband to be his best, making him look good in front of others, considering his feelings and his desires for things, asking what he wants and doing your best to fulfill his wishes. It's a blessing and a protection, not a curse or a statement of inequality. It's a wonderful book and I would recommend to any woman of dating or marriageable age.

Nancy Wilson is a "Titus 2 woman" who has written this book to "teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands" (Titus 2:3-5). She offers scriptural advice for Christian women to be a woman of the Word, who walks with God, who respects and submits to her husband as the head and spiritual leader of the family (Eph. 5:22-24), content in the assignments God gives them, takes her responsibilities in homemaking, and knows how to encourage her husband. She also explains what Biblical submission looks like in the context of marriage and what it is *not*. Contrary to what a few of the reviewers here have stated, Biblical submission is neither about being treated as a doormat nor enduring physical/emotional abuse, etc. Other issues addressed are finances, handling criticisms, etc.

This book was first referred to me through a women's small group that I attended but it was hard to find. It wasn't until pre-marital counseling that I was actually handed the book by my pastor and asked to read it. It provides a clear biblical view of the wife's role in marriage minus the distortion that today's world so often presents us with. It is an encouragement to all (though not without conviction!) & I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is the least bit interested, whether recently engaged or married for many years. There is also a companion book of sorts available for men written by her husband, Douglas Wilson, entitled "Reforming Marriage".

This book has made a huge impact in our church! As I passed this book along to every bride to be and struggling wife, their attitude changed to be more Christ like. Nancy Wilson does a fantastic job of clearly showing how our lives, and our choices, should model our saviours. She is susinct and to the point. Never has such a small book impacted my heart so much!

Nancy Wilson is a pastor's wife and homemaker in Moscow, Idaho. She also teaches literature at Logos School - the premier classical Christian private school in America. This is a collection of her columns for women in Credenda/Agenda - a Reformed, classical Christian magazine. She touches on the themes of respect, contentment, homemaking, and lovemaking in a very straight-forward manner. She is a favorite of Reformed women and conservative Christian home schoolers.The overall message is that of respecting one's husband as one ought, instead of focusing on his problems and shortcomings. She comes from a very conservative Christian perspective, taking the Bible as the literal Word of God and Rule of Life. If these things offend you, don't bother with this book. If these are things you agree with, this book will challenge you in areas of your marriage you never even thought about. I loved this book, although I must admit it convicted me that I need to concentrate more on my own behavior, rather than my husband's.