“If I was really serving God, I wouldn’t be spending my days in high heels and a business suit. I’d find something more spiritual to do – like serving my family or volunteering at my church. Right?”
Can you relate to this statement? Even if you can’t, unfortunately, many Christian women can. Most of us know a young Christian woman who is struggling to figure out how she will balance her career, family, and faith. And she might even feel marginalized in the church, just because she works outside the home.
Here’s my answer. Give her a copy of Work, Love, Pray.
This newly released book by executive Diane Paddison helps working women answer the question: Can I be the woman God intended – even the wife and mother God intended – while striving to excel in my career?
Paddison not only tackles this question, she answers it with a resounding “yes”!
Here’s what I liked about the book. It encourages women to stop whining and start taking action – like seeking out mentors and making smart career choices.
From dual-career families to negotiating with your boss, Paddison hits the hot buttons facing women in the workplace. And despite her enormous success in business, she isn’t preachy or condescending. She’s quick to admit her failures and recognizes that God places each of us in unique circumstances.
Here’s another thing I loved about the book. Work, Love, Pray offers dozens of examples of the successes, failures, and lessons learned from other women on the journey. Including women who have “failed” in business. Women who have been abandoned by a spouse or have unexpectedly lost a family member. Women who have lost it “all” – yet have persevered in faith to rise above their circumstances to live out their God-given talents.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book?
It didn’t exist 20 years ago. I could have really used the advice! In fact, Paddison has founded 4Word, a national nonprofit designed to connect, lead, and support young professional Christian women. Check out the 4Word website here.
Who do you know who can benefit from Work, Love, Pray?
9 comments:
This one sounds like a great read. I have a lot of opinions floating around about me and my decision to write from my man's fam. It can be difficult to deal w/ at times.
~ Wendy
I plan to host a book club on this soon. Hope you can join us!
I'm not a woman, but I sure appreciate the advice to quit whining. Yes, us men can whine aplenty and its time to just be the men -- and women -- God created us to be.
At our last church, I was the first pastor's wife in the church's history to work. I found the hardest thing I had to deal with was the perceived opinions of my church involvement...not what was actually expressed to me.
Sometimes we're harder on ourselves than others are. Sometimes others don't understand our decisions. Sometimes life is a mix of unspoken expectations all around.
I'm with you, Susan....it sounds like this book is long overdue.
Thanks for highlighting it.
Stop whining and take action--love it! I'm with you, I keep coming across so many books I wish had been written twenty years ago. I have a dear friend who struggled for years to find her place within the church as a working woman. Sounds like this book will be an encouragement to so many like her.
Hi there...
Just caught up to you from THC link and wanted to say thanks... I have a huge work decision to make, and guilt is threatening me to NOT take action. Guilt, like an unruly child, needs to sit down and be quiet so I can make this decision with a clear head and heart. Thanks for this suggestion.
I missed this review, Susan -- was on my way to a conference. Looking forward to the book club discussion, though!
Good reeading
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