LW 45: 38-40
The world says of marriage, "Brief is the joy, lasting the bitterness." Let
them say what they please; what God wills and creates is bound to be a
laughingstock to them. . . .
Now the ones who recognize the estate of marriage are those who firmly
believe that God himself instituted it, brought husband and wife together,
and ordained that they should beget children and care for them. For this they
have God's word, Genesis 1[:28], and they can be certain that God does not
lie. They can therefore also be certain that the estate of marriage and
everything that goes with it in the way of conduct, works, and suffering is
pleasing to God. Now tell me, how can the heart have greater good, joy,
and delight than in God, when one is certain that his estate, conduct, and
work is pleasing to God? . . .
Now observe that when that clever harlot, our natural reason . . . takes a
look at married life, she turns up her nose and say, "Alas, must I rbck the
baby, wash its diapers, 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, labor 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 wretchedness and bitterness! It is better to remain
free and lead a peaceful, carefree life; I will become a priest or a nun and
compel my children to do likewise."
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, "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
rock the little babe or wash its diapers, 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 wd I do so, . . . for I am certain that it is thus
pleasing in thy sight."
A wife too should regard her duties in the same light, as she suckles the
child, rocks and bathes it, and cares for it in other ways; . . . These are truly
golden and noble works.