Book Review - In His Steps

As I glanced through the many well-loved titles on my bookshelf today, my eyes fell on In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon. Written in the late 1800s, it explores the idea of what would happen in a town--and eventually the entire world--if a handful of people committed to always do exactly what Jesus would do in their place.

In some ways the book was very inspiring to me. It made me question whether I truly live my principles or just casually profess them. It also made me consider what I could sacrifice or uniquely contribute in Christ's service.

I have one big complaint about the book, though: None of the protagonists are wives or mothers. All the characters who embrace the challenge and experience a mighty change in themselves and their associates are married men of high position in the community, or single men and women. When married women enter the narrative at all, it is as naysayers who can't understand why a daughter turned down fame and fortune to sing for the poor, or why a husband quit his lucrative job with a corrupt employer. The only exception is the preacher's supportive wife, but she is scarcely mentioned; her individual experiences are never explored.

Since Sheldon's goal was to show how true discipleship could change the world, perhaps he left mothers out of the equation because he didn't see what they could contribute. A full-time mom doesn't have the time to manage a half-way house, run for mayor, or give cooking lessons all day in the slums. However, I would argue that if you don't have mothers involved in this sort of endeavor, your battle's already half lost. They're the ones who will teach the next generation what to believe and value. If you try to change the world through a career or politics, you may make an impact or you may not. If you raise a child, you will have an indelible impact, for good or ill, on that life and the thousands--perhaps millions--it will come in contact with.