The Fruit of Her Hands: Respect and the Christian Woman (Family)

For a book with such an empowering title for women, it sure doesn't give them much credit. This book stresses the message that a woman's only calling is to produce children and support her husband relentlessly. For example, she advises treating your body like your husband's garden so he may enjoy it whenever he pleases and always having your breasts available to him because he might be tempted by another woman's breasts (this gave me a humorous image of a woman thrusting her chest in her husband's face when he glances at another woman). There seems to be a note of fear in these words, as though Wilson truly feels a husband will stray if he's not constantly reminded that he can have sex with his wife. Sex and availability are vital, but the advice was rather strongly and somewhat humorously worded.

This book has such a negative view of women that it harps on and on about how we need men to take care of us because we apparently can't take care of ourselves. Both sexes are portrayed badly here; if I couldn't take care of myself, I certainly wouldn't want to be in the care of a man who needed a constant view of my breasts to keep from straying! The book is full of offensive remarks about marriage, particularly the claim that it's not a partnership. What does two becoming one mean, if not a partnership and a joining together?

Wilson also preaches that the husband is head of the wife, though the usage of the word here is different than the Biblical one. Constant comments such as, "you must always refer to your head; your head has the final say" imply that Wilson believes women, upon marriage, should give up use of their brains and place their husband's heads literally on their own shoulders. Indeed, my personal favorite idiotic comment is as follows:

"A head is given to a woman for protection, safety and shelter....What a great protection it is to have a head to submit to, rather than being swayed by our emotions, whims, and fears."

I hope you got this message as clearly as I did: this foolish woman has absolutely no faith in womankind and claims that it's good for women to have men control and lead them, because we can't make decisions for ourselves! Speak for yourself, Mrs. Wilson; it certainly sounds to me like your emotions in this matter overrule actual Biblical truth. Oh, and nice try indicating that women read the original Greek meaning behind Bible passages to "get out of this". This is practically an admittance on Wilson's part that the Greek does, indeed, say something about womanhood that contradicts the woman-slave picture that Wilson tries to paint into Scripture herself.

This teaching goes far beyond loving and respecting a husband in a Godly way. I cannot see how people can embrace this book, but I'm going to caution women to stay away from it; try Liz Curtis Higgs instead. One final note of interest: inspite of Wilson's many different suggestions of how to sexually please your husband (because he might get bored if you stick to one way), her own husband, in his book for men, says quite plainly that he believes sex is a duty and doesn't need spark in order to be pleasing. I wonder if his wife knows this?...

This is provacative in all the right ways!

Fantastic book! I love the way the Mother and Daughter share the writing. It is a must have book for every home! Dr. Nancy Hameloth

a great read

This Wilson family have authored amazing books. Each one has been very insightful! I found this one particularly amazing for how we may strive to treat our husbands on a daily basis.

Amazing read. Very eye opening to biblical truths that completely contradicts the lies society hits us with daily.

Every new wife should read this book. It transformed my marriage.