I came across Susanna Foth Aughtmon's first book advertized in a magazine and instantly connected with the snippit I read and ordered the book. I loved it and much to my delight did I discover her blog and later got the opportunity to read AND review both her 2nd book and most recent installment "I Blame Eve". Much like her other writing I love her wit and relate to her as a wife, mother, and a woman with a heart for Jesus.
What spoke to me the most about this book was how so closely we relate to Eve. We were made to expect a perfect world, a perfect life. When we examine Eve we realize, we are her. "In the presence of God, the devil has no power. You have just given him more power in your minds than he deserves." (pg 70 I Blame Eve). What I realized is that we, like Eve, have to trust that God has our very best in minds and that no plan we can come up with could be better. It would have been great to be Eve and experience that perfect world for even a little while but "God is no longer offering us Eden" (pg 81). Ouch.
That last line about punched me in the gut because she's absolutely right. God isn't offering perfection here on Earth any longer. Just grace, hope, and forgiveness so that we can have a perfect life with him in heaven someday. Someday. Sigh. However, there is great power in weakness, in other words, submitting control of our lives and our strife towards perfection to God gives us peace. If we don't "Sometimes God chooses to pry our manipulative fingers off the so-called steering wheel of life by using the school of hard knocks." (pg 142). I am glad she too has to forge the fight to follow everyday (or even every hour). That's not easy to admit being a pastor's wife. With my husband starting seminary in just a couple of months it helped me to hear it.
I highly recommend all of Susanna's books (and blog) including this one and bottom line -"Don't mess with the snake".
