book report part 1: "Captivating"

i am currently reading "Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul" by John & Stasi Eldredge. there is so much to learn from this book that i decided to start writing about it even though i'm not finished.

in the beginning of the book it describes the significance of woman when she was created. here are some thoughts that jumped out at me.

It is nearing the end of the sixth day, the end of the Creator's great labor, as Adam steps forth, the image of God, the triumph of his work. He alone is pronounced the son of God. Nothing in creation even comes close. Truly, the masterpiece seems complete. And yet, the Master says that something is not good, not right. Something is missing...and that something was Eve. (Genesis 2:21-23)

She is the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God. Woman. In one last flourish creation comes to a finish not with Adam, but with Eve. She is the Master's finishing touch. Eve is ...breathtaking.

Given the way creation unfolds, how it builds to ever higher and higher works or art, can there be any doubt that Eve is the crown of creation? Not an afterthought. She is God's final touch, his piece de resistance. She fills a place in the world nothing and no one else can fill. Step to a window, ladies, if you can. Better still, find some place with a view. Look out across the earth and say to yourself, "The whole, vast world in incomplete without me. Creation reached its zenith in me."

to me that is astonishing! i have always struggled with insecurities and self-esteem. i think most women do. it's not uncommon for women to question their worth. the difficult part is finding worth in what matters...finding worth in God. most of the women i know, me included, have searched for significance and meaning in everything we could think of. we try to get validation from friends, family, men, etc. we try to fill up our days, our hours and minutes with activities so we don't have the down time to think...to see that we really are lonely. after all the striving to be something we're not, our core tells us there is still something missing. that is something we can never escape no matter how many activities we are involved with or how many relationships we are in or how we think we've found the answer in a man/woman. God created us to find our significance in Him and absolutely nothing will fill that void except for HIM.

you know, i think that when God created Eve He had her future insecurities in mind. the Creator of the universe created woman so man and the rest of creation would be complete...God said it was good! what greater validation is there in life?