I remember one year as my birthday and Christmas approached (my birthday is in December) two of the many items on my wishlist were a Bon Jovi compilation album and a book combining two of John Eldredge’s books.

That year I had lost my copy of Wild at Heart by Eldredge, a book about understanding the masculine soul as it’s been designed by God. I was going to put that book alone on my wishlist, but someone told me about a special collection that was coming out combining that book with another one called Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge, which is basically Wild at Heart for women. (They preferred the title ‘Captivating’ over ‘Women Gone Wild at Heart’.)

Now, I’m at the age where my ongoing status as a single could cause relatives to wonder if I may be… not as inclined to continue the bloodline. I figured this other book might come in handy as far as understanding women better so I can talk to them more easily, and as a kind of heads-up on what to expect when entering a relationship.

My birthday came and one of the gifts I received was a new edition of Wild at Heart. On its own. Not the combo pack I had asked for. But I wasn’t disappointed. I missed the lessons in Wild at Heart greatly, and looked forward to being able to study those lessons further.

Christmas came, with all of my relatives together in one room. I opened up the gift from one of my two sisters, and received the Bon Jovi compilation album I had asked for. I opened up the present from my other sister and there, in my hands, in bright, pretty colours for everyone to see was a book, and scrawled across it in elegant lettering were the words Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul.

I could not have been happier to receive a Bon Jovi compilation album, which I immediately threw into the cranked up CD player, blaring “Dead or Alive” and “Blaze of Glory” so everyone could hear.

And that’s my most awkward Christmas moment.

PS: Captivating is a great book. I recommend it to everyone, even guys. : )