I have to admit, I was initially intrigued by this books title: I Blame Eve. I.Blame.Eve. It was, however, the rest of the book’s title that sealed the deal for me, prompting me to want to read and review Susanna Foth Aughtmon’s text:
I Blame Eve: Freedom from Perfectionism, Control Issues & the Tendency to Listen to Talking Snakes
My intrigue quickly turned to anticipation, an anticipation which met satisfaction.
From the onset of the book, the transparency and realness of the author is clear. Her authenticity translated well causing this reader to relax. Her personal accounts dispel any and all judgmental tones, replacing them instead with a sense of “I’m there, too.” The reader is welcomed in, affirmed, validated and loved through.
THE Talking Snake.
Inside perfection, evil roamed. The evil one took form, purposing ” to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10, NIV) Eve (and Adam), thus putting an end to the pureness of God’s creation. The author develops this idea beautifully, giving our mind’s eye a deeper look into how Satan lured Eve with GREAT intention.
Eve’s luring is our luring. Satan’s tactic, the one which brought down Eden, remains in his arsenal. He’s intentional, yet subtle. As the author writes:
“It begins with the voice of doubt and chaos, the voice that invites us to wonder if we don’t deserve more than we’ve been given. It begins with the thought that no one can tell us what to do. It begins with a hiss and a mirthless laugh as we wander far away from the heart of the One who breathed life into us. It begins with the snake.” (Aughtmon, 2012, pg 29)
It is in the luring we can learn a valuable lesson. Let’s face it, as a child of the KING, we’ll be tempted. Our soul is secure, but how we live our life for him, the choices we make, the life we choose, can sadly still be in play. Eve had a choice: run or stay. I love how the author puts it:
“The problem was that Eve didn’t turn on her heel and walk away. Eve paused a moment and gave his words credence. She weighed them against her own logic and what she recalled God saying to her. She did what so many of us have done on way too many occasions. Eve listened to the enemy of her soul.” (Aughtmon, 2012, pg 33)
Like many of us, Eve took matters into her own hands. Instead of dropping and running to her Father, she began buying into what the snake had to say. Now, I truly don’t believe Eve realized the fallout from just listening to the snake. I also don’t believe she imagined the consequences, the generational consequences, from her one action. I do believe her pause changed everything. She paused to listen instead of running to the Father. As the author writes,
“It is important to invite God into the snaky conversations that take place in our minds and the niggling doubts that dig into our souls, because this is where the battle begins.” (Aughtmon, 2012, pg 35)
Throughout the book, the author addresses “fallout” from the fall.
Chapter 6: I Want to Hide from God
Chapter 12: I Am a Perfectionist
Chapter 14: I Have Control Issues…Big Ones
Chapter 17: I Am a Little Self-Centered
But then, she beautifully writes the closing chapters, chapters intended to give us hope:
Chapter 21: I Need a New Idea of What Perfect Looks Like
Chapter 22: I Am Not in Control
Chapter 23: I Need a Paradigm Shift
Chapter 24: I Am Ready for a New Out-of-Control Me
I’ll close with one of my favorite passages from the book:
“…the lure of living free, with God’s Spirit given free rein in our hearts and minds, has to outweigh the fears of giving over control and of centering ourselves around his will instead of our own. We fool ourselves into thinking it is scarier to put our lives into God’s hands when really it is far scarier to take our lives into our own hands. (Note to self: remember Eve.) We were made for a life of relying on him. We were made to live free. Because of Jesus we can.” (Aughtmon, 2012, pg 168)
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, giving it a 5/5 stars.
About the author…
Susanna Foth Aughtmon is the author of All I Need Is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans and My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself. After pursuing various careers, including her own interior decorating business, she decided to stay home as a full-time mom. A pastor’s wife and mother of three, Susanna assists her husband, Scott, in various ministries at the church they planted in California.
Endorsements…
“Susanna Aughtmon is one of my favorite writers. Her authenticity is disarming. Her hope is contagious. After reading this book you’ll realize that you don’t need more control in your life . . . you need more of God.”–Mark Batterson, author, The Circle Maker
“Incredibly quick-witted while challenging. It meets you right where you are and immediately inspires you to grow from there. Susanna’s humor and realness connect you with her in such a way that you feel like you’ve made a true friend.”–Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, aka Plumb, songwriter and Curb Records recording artist
“With beautiful writing, humor, and depth of insight, Susanna Foth Aughtmon unpacks one of the most important stories in the Bible and reveals truth every woman needs to hear.”–Joanna Weaver, bestselling author, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
