The Curse of Control: LET.IT.GO Review & Giveaway
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 7:05AM 
Being a woman who loves control is a curse.
I've always known I inherited the "control gene". My husband and I would laugh about it, and most often I could convince myself it was an asset:
I'm always on time.
I meet deadlines.
People can depend on me to get things done.
Being a Type A woman definitely has its benefits, but who am I fooling? Mostly, it's just a huge hassle trying to control everything all the time.
When my children were younger I had a lot of control. My house was clean, I could gain sanity during naptimes, and those precious little ones still hadn't developed a mind of their own.
Those were the days. I had it all UNDER CONTROL.
Fast forward just a few years: I'm now a mom of an eleven and almost eight year old. We are at home together all day long. They don't take naps. They make messes all day long.
Oh, and they each have strong minds of their own. {wonder where they got THAT from?}
Add to that all of the balls I juggle as a homeschool, work at home mom and most days I struggle for control and never achieve any.
Here's a typical scenario:
The house is 100% clean because company is coming for the afternoon. Fifteen minutes before they arrive a bucket of LEGO bricks is dumped on the floor. Someone spills a glass of milk on the kitchen floor. The dog decides to poop in the entryway {gross, I know - but this happens all too often!}.
Or how about this one?
While my child has volunteered to make dinner for the evening I am hovering over her every move, grumbling and complaining about the mess she is making (because she certainly isn't cleaning as she goes like I do). After fifteen minutes in the kitchen she finally relents and says "You do it, mom - I can't do it as good as you."
I truly want to be joyful, but more often than not that joy is elusive because I am trying to "run the show" effectively. Not only is it hard on me, I'm often crushing little souls in my controlling path.
It's hard to admit this, but it's a very LARGE part of who I am.
Does this control freak sound like you?
It is no coincidence that Karen Ehman's new book LET.IT.GO fell into my lap a short time ago.
Her words at the beginning of the book spoke to me loud and clear:
So please pause, my reading friend. Take a deep breath. I don't believe it's a coincidence that you're holding this book just now. You and I have much to learn about letting go, about prying our fingers off of the control wheel of life and giving it back to the One who created multitasking , take-charge women in the first place.
Topics include:
- Managing Your Man
- Micromanaging Instead of Mothering
- Hovering Over the Home
- Our Clamoring Culture
- Soul Control
Karen offers advice from the word of God to help us learn to rely more on HIM and less on ourselves.
Through humorous personal stories and "control quizzes" she begins to lead us control freak women on the journey to lead more happy and peaceful lives.
At a time in my life where I feel things are spinning out of control, LET.IT.GO showed me that if I would just let go of some control I will ironically feel MORE in control. Oh, I know this is so, but reading the book hammered the point home.
The book has made such an impact on me that I have invited several friends to participate in the LET.IT.GO Bible study with me after the holidays. These are friends that are committed to making a positive change in their lives... a move away from so much control and more dependence on HIM.
As I sat in church Sunday the tears flowed - reading this book has shed light on my selfish, controlling ways. It's not easy to face, and I'm ashamed.
I am thankful, however, for the chance to CHANGE, and the chance to allow God's grace to wash over me and start fresh each and every day. God is good... HIS control is the final word.
I want offer you, my faithful readers, a chance to win LET.IT.GO. Two lucky winners will be chosen.
To enter: Simply leave me a comment and tell me why you NEED this book. What area of life do you attempt to control the most?
This giveaway will be open until Sunday, November 25th at midnight. Please be sure to leave a valid email address where I can contact you.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I've been blessed by this book in ways I cannot adequately express. I'm grateful to Karen and the ministry she is providing through her books.
Karen Ehman is the Director of the Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker team and the author of six books. Her passion is to provide practical inspiration and biblical encouragement to help women live their priorities and love their lives. She’s been a guest on The 700 Club, Moody Midday Connection and Focus on the Family. She and her college sweetheart Todd are raising their three kids in the boondocks of central Michigan.
Reader Comments (44)
Ugh... This sounds like me too... Want to learn to pick my battles instead of every little one.
I need to let go and allow God to lead me. I need to let go and allow my husband to lead our family. I need to let go, so that I can see and pursue the vision that God has for my life.
I am a lot like Becky above. I'm a "recovering" perfectionist and struggle with trying to control my kids too (among other things & people).
Hmmm..... I'm not sure where the most. Probably my home, which is failing miserably.......
I need this book because God has been convicting me recently to relase control over certain aspects of my and my family's lives...and, honestly I'm fighting Him. Which is pretty stupid, but true. I could really use some encouragement and I think this book would be a great help.
I love the idea and would love to know how she suggests that I let it go. The older I get, the harder it is for me to let it go!
I didn't really realize how much of a control freak i was until i took the 5 day challenge! Now i'm recognizing it in most areas of my life!
I need to lose my perfectionistic tendencies for sure.
Learning to let it go moment by moment...trusting God and Letting Him have it all!
Ohhhhh...I so totally need this book!
And after I read it I’m going to pass it on to my daughter! LOL
I’ve raised my kids and over the years I’ve chilled “a little”…LOL…but would LOVE to win this and learn more about just “letting it go”!! I have totally passed on the perfectionist syndrome onto my daughter! Arrrgggh!! LOL!!
Thanks to Karen for just letting her hair down and helping all of us to just LET IT GOOOOOO!!! ((hugs!)) Merrrrrrry Christmas from a Mississippi GirL..that is hoping I win! :)
Love Karen and need to read this book :-) Total OCD-control mom, right here. I've let go of a couple things this year, and while it's been really hard, I know it's for the best.
I NEED this book because I am a perfectionist. I try to control mostly everything but my time is a sticky one with me (my schedule). I need to allow for interruptions from God, family and friends. Thank you for this opportunity :)
I do childcare in my home and would love to share this book with my mom's!!!
I'm a homeschooling mom of an almost 11 & almost 9 year old boys. I often wish I could be a "go with the flow, fly by the seat of my pants" kind of mom. I think there are times when the type A mom is a good thing & I think I need to be able to Let. It. Go. more.
I really need guidance to managing my man!
I too, like you, inherited "the control freak gene" from my mother, who got it from her mother too, we are 3 generations of control freaks. My husband and I have joked about the family trait but I have tried hard to not let it wound him or my children. However at times it's hard because I see the "benefits" more than I see the "wounds" until it may be too late. After reading all of these reviews it's good to remember that I'm not the only one that struggles with this and God can help me along the path too.
this looks like such a good book.
It is all about God's grace and trusting His control----great opportunity to win this book!
I would LOVE this book!!! I need help with letting go of perfectionism. If it isn't perfect, I don't bother, than nothing gets done. As a homeschooling mom of 6 kids, ages 11, 9, 5, 3, 3, and 2... you can imagine how often I achieve perfection. ;-)