Are you in a marriage that’s been struggling for awhile?  Like, since day 1?

Do your marriage dynamics fall into the general category of dominant wife married to a passive husband?  If so then, April Cassidy’s book, The Peaceful Wife; living in submission to Christ as Lord, may be something for you to consider.

April Cassidy is a Type A, highly-educated, driven, demanding woman.  But, as hard as she tried to ‘fix’ her husband, she could never quite establish the deep intimate relationship she wanted with him.  What was missing?

“If you have already been trying harder, maybe harder is not the way.  Try different,” Dr. Henry Cloud.

The premise of this book is definitely different for most Type A, perfectionist, highly motivated, career path women.  The book winds through April’s journey as she puts submission and respect into place.

One of the strengths of this book is her lists of ideas.  She asks the reader to ponder heavy personal issues through introspective sections.  She gives the reader many behavior modification suggestions throughout the book.

April contemplates nearly every possible inter-personal scenario between a driven wife and a passive husband and writes about it.  One of the best ways she painted insight was through the interview with her husband, Greg, and his perspective on her respectful shift in behavior.  She also shares comments/stories from her blog readers.  (April has been penning The Peaceful Wife since 2012, hop over there to see more about her).

To be honest, April and I have some theological differences.  However, we do agree Jesus Christ has come in the flesh as God from God and is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  We’re Christians.  I don’t get all hung up on a lot of other labels like complementarian and egalitarian.

Every Christian marriage is different.  If submission and respect is what helps your marriage to function and thrive, more power to you.  If your marriage functions and thrives through more egalitarian philosophy, awesome!  Do whatever it takes for the two of you to have unity in Christ and to live out Christ’s unity through your actions.

If you’ve been trying hard to help your marriage thrive and it’s not working and you don’t know what it’s going to take, then maybe you should give this book a shot.  Remember try different, especially if you fall into the general marriage dynamic that is mentioned above.

Now, here’s the thing.  I don’t feel like April’s book is a huge persuasive argument to be submissive.  She kind of expects you’re on board with that because you’ve bought the book, but I didn’t feel belittled that I don’t always lean that way.  These are her conclusions and you are invited to agree with her or not.

April says, “This [submission and respect] is not oppression!  It is the intimacy I always wanted but didn’t know how to have.”

I completely agree with April when she says,

“We have the power to destroy our men or to inspire them to become all God desires them to be.”

Wives destroy or inspire through their words and actions.  April has found the key to her husband’s heart and it may be the key to your husband’s, as well.

(Please, do study any and all scripture references in anything you read, whether in my writing here on OysterBed7, or anywhere else.)

I received this book free from the publisher. (…) I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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