A couple months ago, the amazing Sophie Hudson put out an all-call for people to help promote her upcoming book.  Because I loved her first two books, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet and Home is Where My People Are, I immediately applied to be part of the launch team, although I never expected to actually be chosen.  BUT I WAS!

The best part of being on a launch team is getting to read a much anticipated book before everyone else. I received my copy of Giddy Up, Eunice: Because Women Need Each Other about a month ago and promptly read it in a day and a half.

Y’all. It’s so good.

[Disclaimer: although I did receive the book for free, the review below is completely my own honest opinion.]

In this book, Hudson studies three pairs of female friendships in Scripture and provides practical applications for us today…with humor, wisdom, depth, and ALL THE FEELS.  There were moments when I laughed out loud and others when I sobbed.  I was convicted, comforted, and challenged, all at the same time. There is something so beautiful that happens when women live life together and the Spirit of God is present.

Another thing that sets these three friendships apart is that all three pairs, Elizabeth and Mary, Naomi and Ruth, and Eunice and Lois, are cross-generational friendships.  We need each other.  We should be reaching out to those ahead and behind us.

Sophie interjects stories of the women in her own life – a beautiful tribute to her mother and mother-in-law and many others who have spoken truth to her in times of need. I couldn’t help but think the many women who have gone ahead for me – and that’s when the tears started to fall.

Here are just a few of my favorite quotes:

“Culture tells us to compete. To look out for ourselves. Scripture tells us to bless. To look out for each other.”

“The majority of women who are involved in a church or synagogue state that they feel little, if any, emotional support from their congregation…Yes, it’s vulnerable to open up about the deepest desires of our hearts, not to mention our sin and our shortcomings, but it’s better than being isolated. It’s better than being bitter…What are we going to model for [Millennials] and the generations behind them? Are we going to pass on a culture of honor and blessing? A culture where women are valued for the unique gifts they bring to the body of Christ? A culture where women are supportive of each other, encouraging and kind?”

“If we tell ourselves that a person will never understand where we’re coming from and what we’re dealing with, then odds are we won’t open up. And if we don’t open up, we can rest assured that we’ll miss out on other women’s wisdom and perspective. We might even walk around with a bunch of burdens we shouldn’t be trying to carry alone. We might compare ourselves straight into isolation and loneliness. Or, heaven forbid, we might just quit – quit trying to reach out, quit trying to connect, quit trying to be vulnerable, quit trying to support, and quit trying to love each other really well.”