On married life Luther writes that our natural reason “turns up her nose and says, ‘Alas, must I rock the baby, wash its nappies, make its bed, smell its stench, stay up nights with it, take care of it when it cries, heal its rashes and sores, and on top of that care for my wife, provide for her, labour at my trade, take care of this and take care of that, do this and do that, endure this and endure that, and whatever else of bitterness and drudgery married life involves? What, should I make such a prisoner of myself O you poor, wretched fellow, have you taken a wife? Fie, fie upon such wretched-ness and bitterness! It is better to remain free and lead a peaceful, carefree
life.. .’
What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant, distasteful, and despised duties in the Spirit, and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as with the costliest gold and jewels. It says, ‘O God, because I am certain that thou hast created me as a man and hast from my body begotten this child, I also know for a certainty that it meets with thy perfect pleasure. I confess to thee that I am not worthy to rock the little babe or wash its nappies, or to be entrusted with the care of the child and its mother. How is it that I, without any merit, have come to this distinction of being certain that I am serving thy creature and thy most precious will? O how gladly will I do so, though the duties should be even more insignificant and despised. Neither frost nor heat, neither drudgery nor labour, will distress or dissuade me, for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in thy sight.’s
I’m not sure why Luther speaks from a man’s viewpoint of doing all of these tasks. I’ll have to ask Phil about that! But of course it applies to a mama as well. How often I get tired of the “drudgery” of the everyday tasks of caring for little ones. My flesh can look back on my single days and think “wasn’t it nice to just do what you wanted, when you wanted?” But doing those things had no reward other than making myself happy. No chubby little baby looking back at me with love in her eyes happy to have a clean “nappy”. I’ve noticed that when these tasks involve MY little one, one I love, they just become things “that have to be done”, not disgusting or painful, I just do them. I now know what my purpose in life is. I am to care for all of the needs of these precious girls. In doing this I please God who blessed me with them and gave them into my care! What great responsibility!
An Issues Etc. program on “Vocation and Parenting” worth listening to.
