Homeschool reviews for you

What is true feminine beauty? How can a young woman in today’s world glorify God through her pure, chaste and lovely behavior, without appearing “holier than thou”? Speaking from the depths of a mother’s heart, author Stacy McDonald addresses these and other questions in her book, Raising Maidens of Virtue: A Study in Feminine Loveliness for Mothers and Daughters.

There are so many messages bombarding young women today—almost all of them presenting a view of womanhood that is counter to the biblical view of young maidens who are daughters of the King. It is a challenge for women, both young and old, to embrace biblical, feminine womanhood, especially when many of us don’t really know what it is supposed to look like. Just as the Fence Dwellers in chapter one of Raising Maidens of Virtue, centuries of looking outside the boundaries of God’s plan and yearning for what the world has to offer has caused us to have a warped view of what true feminine beauty is.

Designed for mothers and their teenage daughters to study together, Raising Maidens of Virtue is not a dry, textbook style study, but rather one that is best enjoyed snuggled together with a cup of tea. Mrs. McDonald has done a superb job of using creative stories, illustrations and gentle conversations to guide her readers as they consider such topics as guarding the tongue, modesty, purity, honoring parents, idleness, contentment, cleanliness, family relationships and true, biblical femininity and beauty. At the end of each chapter there are scripture references and discussion questions designed to ensure understanding and encourage application. Also included in the book are ideas for making this study even more memorable through the use of journals and scrapbooks. Raising Maidens of Virtue is as pleasant to look at as the message is refreshing to read. Charming watercolor illustrations by Johannah Bluedorn compliment the text beautifully.

As I read Raising Maidens of Virtue, I quickly found my heart warmed and my own views of femininity challenged. I did not always find myself in agreement with Mrs. McDonald, but I did find myself wishing I had had this information during my own maiden years. I was particularly touched as I read about the McDonald girls presenting small heart charms, representing their hearts, to their father for safe keeping. Mrs. McDonald also shares the poem each daughter lovingly penned for her father to read as he received her “heart.” Through this and other poignant illustrations, a vision for biblical beauty and godly character is cast before us. Mothers and daughters will find their relationship stronger as together they embrace this vision.

One might expect a book which holds to such an “old fashioned” or “conservative” view of biblical womanhood to be filled with a legalistic list of “shalts” and “shalt nots”. Instead, Mrs. McDonald wisely and lovingly points her readers to God’s Word, shares her own thoughts, and leaves her readers to apply the material as God speaks to each woman’s heart. By tackling issues such as taming the tongue and contentment, we are reminded that true feminine loveliness begins on the inside.

In writing Raising Maidens of Virtue, Mrs. McDonald has provided families with a wonderful tool to encourage their daughters to cultivate, celebrate, and cherish God’s design for true feminine beauty.

Reviewed by Cindy Prechtel, Editor
Homeschool Reviews for You
www.homeschoolingfromtheheart.com

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