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Bless this house
Devotional / biography (hardcover)
156 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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About the author
Anita Bryant
13 books1 followerAmerica singer, mostly known for her religious believes and anti-homosexuality activism.
She scored hits in the period of 1959 till 1964. Nowadays she runs the organisation Anita Bryant Ministries International.
She scored hits in the period of 1959 till 1964. Nowadays she runs the organisation Anita Bryant Ministries International.
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June 25, 2025
PROBABLY THE ‘HIGH POINT’ OF HER CAREER AS A CHRISTIAN AUTHOR
Anita Bryant (1940-2024) was a former beauty queen and singer, spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission from 1969-1980, and a popular Christian author. She pretty much destroyed her career with her campaign in the 1970s against "militant homosexuality" through her organization "Save Our Children." She ultimately divorced, sought counseling, and declared bankruptcy (twice) despite later trying to resurrect her career. Nevertheless, as late as 2011, she asserted, “I did the right thing."
This 1972 book (following her books, ‘Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory’ and ‘Amazing Grace’) was the ‘high point’ of her career as an author; her subsequent books (‘The Anita Bryant Story,’ ‘At Any Cost’) were based on her ‘militant’ campaign.
She wrote in the Introduction, “Writing this book , I’m much more Anita Green than I am Anita Bryant. Not that there’s any role conflict---Bob Green, my husband… is my manager, wouldn’t let that happen… The best role I could possibly play is Anita Green, Bob’s wife and our children’s mommy. Fortunately, God gave me … a wonderful marriage, but many other opportunities…” (Pg. 13)
She continues, “Another thing that pointed Bob and me toward this book was the Women’s Lib question… people keep asking what I think of Women’s Lib. I tell them I was liberated when I received Christ as my personal Savior. That’s the only liberation I would ever seek. One of our biggest hang-ups---the reason Bob and I had such a terrible marriage at first---was because I tried to be (as I always had been before marriage) the dominant one… I’m having to learn the hard---lesson of how to follow---not man---but Christ… and not caring what reaction I’ll get from my husband. Sometimes Bob’s reactions aren’t particularly Christlike! For me the hardest lesson … is to become the kind of woman the Bible depicts. I’m thoroughly convinced that other kind of woman is not only warping our children, but ruining America… Woman’s role, as delineated in the Bible, offers all the freedom and genuine liberation any woman could possibly handle… Too many young men… refuse to be heads of their households. It’s frightening.” (Pg. 17-18)
She muses, “Sometime I blamed Bob because things weren’t perfect in our family. I blamed him---he was my scapegoat… I wanted Bob to be the spiritual head of our family. Yet what held him back… was my own ineffectiveness as a Christian in our home! Ironically enough, for most of our married life Bob has urged me to give my Christian witness publicly.” (Pg. 24)
Bob Green wrote in Chapter 3 (‘Life with Anita’), “I could never take on a mother’s duties. Nor does Anita really want my role as head of the household. Nevertheless, there are times… when her bossiness does come out… Trouble is, I have a hot temper… Anita also has a quick temper. That’s a combination like gasoline and matches… My wife and I are not afraid to fight. We have our battles and confrontations like other couples… We have to learn how to accept one another, or our marriage could be just plain awful.” (Pg. 37-39)
She advises, “Submission, in the Biblical meaning of the word, becomes the only answer to that sort of problem… As I can support him with faith and trust, he can protect and complete me… When we as wives decide to submit to the man we love, that means we’re truly willing to change our natures.” (Pg. 48)
In Chapter 7 (‘A Man’s Faith’) Bob Green admits, “Well, like too many other men, I can’t claim I was the spiritual head of our household… Anita’s thing last year was that I had to develop as a leader. I said, ‘Look, everybody has to develop at their own pace… Looking back, we both see that Lord has dealt with me in His own good time.” (Pg. 73)
She acknowledges, “I suppose every marriage in the world has sex difficulties at times… We reached a point where we didn’t bother even to kiss goodnight. It kept bugging me that Bob didn’t hold my hand or kiss me goodnight, but I was too proud to mention it…” (Pg. 126-127)
She summarizes, “Bob isn’t perfect, but he looks out for my good because he loves me… He certainly will make mistakes, but overall he simply wants to please me and make me happy.” (Pg. 133)
The book concludes with a visit to their house (including his ‘blessing’ on it) by Billy Graham. (Pg. 147-150)
[Now, be honest: If you were a ‘Christian Counselor,’ could you perceive some potential problems ahead with this marriage?]
Anita Bryant (1940-2024) was a former beauty queen and singer, spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission from 1969-1980, and a popular Christian author. She pretty much destroyed her career with her campaign in the 1970s against "militant homosexuality" through her organization "Save Our Children." She ultimately divorced, sought counseling, and declared bankruptcy (twice) despite later trying to resurrect her career. Nevertheless, as late as 2011, she asserted, “I did the right thing."
This 1972 book (following her books, ‘Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory’ and ‘Amazing Grace’) was the ‘high point’ of her career as an author; her subsequent books (‘The Anita Bryant Story,’ ‘At Any Cost’) were based on her ‘militant’ campaign.
She wrote in the Introduction, “Writing this book , I’m much more Anita Green than I am Anita Bryant. Not that there’s any role conflict---Bob Green, my husband… is my manager, wouldn’t let that happen… The best role I could possibly play is Anita Green, Bob’s wife and our children’s mommy. Fortunately, God gave me … a wonderful marriage, but many other opportunities…” (Pg. 13)
She continues, “Another thing that pointed Bob and me toward this book was the Women’s Lib question… people keep asking what I think of Women’s Lib. I tell them I was liberated when I received Christ as my personal Savior. That’s the only liberation I would ever seek. One of our biggest hang-ups---the reason Bob and I had such a terrible marriage at first---was because I tried to be (as I always had been before marriage) the dominant one… I’m having to learn the hard---lesson of how to follow---not man---but Christ… and not caring what reaction I’ll get from my husband. Sometimes Bob’s reactions aren’t particularly Christlike! For me the hardest lesson … is to become the kind of woman the Bible depicts. I’m thoroughly convinced that other kind of woman is not only warping our children, but ruining America… Woman’s role, as delineated in the Bible, offers all the freedom and genuine liberation any woman could possibly handle… Too many young men… refuse to be heads of their households. It’s frightening.” (Pg. 17-18)
She muses, “Sometime I blamed Bob because things weren’t perfect in our family. I blamed him---he was my scapegoat… I wanted Bob to be the spiritual head of our family. Yet what held him back… was my own ineffectiveness as a Christian in our home! Ironically enough, for most of our married life Bob has urged me to give my Christian witness publicly.” (Pg. 24)
Bob Green wrote in Chapter 3 (‘Life with Anita’), “I could never take on a mother’s duties. Nor does Anita really want my role as head of the household. Nevertheless, there are times… when her bossiness does come out… Trouble is, I have a hot temper… Anita also has a quick temper. That’s a combination like gasoline and matches… My wife and I are not afraid to fight. We have our battles and confrontations like other couples… We have to learn how to accept one another, or our marriage could be just plain awful.” (Pg. 37-39)
She advises, “Submission, in the Biblical meaning of the word, becomes the only answer to that sort of problem… As I can support him with faith and trust, he can protect and complete me… When we as wives decide to submit to the man we love, that means we’re truly willing to change our natures.” (Pg. 48)
In Chapter 7 (‘A Man’s Faith’) Bob Green admits, “Well, like too many other men, I can’t claim I was the spiritual head of our household… Anita’s thing last year was that I had to develop as a leader. I said, ‘Look, everybody has to develop at their own pace… Looking back, we both see that Lord has dealt with me in His own good time.” (Pg. 73)
She acknowledges, “I suppose every marriage in the world has sex difficulties at times… We reached a point where we didn’t bother even to kiss goodnight. It kept bugging me that Bob didn’t hold my hand or kiss me goodnight, but I was too proud to mention it…” (Pg. 126-127)
She summarizes, “Bob isn’t perfect, but he looks out for my good because he loves me… He certainly will make mistakes, but overall he simply wants to please me and make me happy.” (Pg. 133)
The book concludes with a visit to their house (including his ‘blessing’ on it) by Billy Graham. (Pg. 147-150)
[Now, be honest: If you were a ‘Christian Counselor,’ could you perceive some potential problems ahead with this marriage?]
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