Katherine Von Bora

Two years after Luther helped the twelve nuns escape the cloister, all were safely tucked away in marriages or positions except one.  Her name was Katherine Von Bora.  A match had been made for Katherine, but her partner went and married someone else.  Poor Katherine!  Then, Luther made another selection for her.  His name was Dr. Glatz.  Katherine defied Luther's choice, and said she would marry Luther instead!  It was meant as a good humored rebuff because Luther was past marrying age at forty two.

Luther did not respond seriously to Katy's suggestion until he went home to visit his parents.  His father it seems, loved the idea!  Luther began to think that perhaps it would be good to marry.  He could give Katherine the status as a married woman she needed and give a testimony to his faith.  Luther wrote,
"...  I believe in marriage, and I intend to get married before I die, even though it should be only a betrothal like Joseph's".

Well, Ok Luther.  It was a good thing to do... to take care of Katy.  It makes the more romantically inclined  wonder at his frankness.  But, the story gets better.

Delivered in a Herring Barrel

Luther had no thought of marriage whatsoever.  His was a life of controversy  which would very likely end in certain death by the hands of the papacy.  During the reformation however, monks began to marry.  "Good heavens! They won't give me a wife," he boldly proclaimed.

In a short time a situation arose which would challenge his stand.  Monks and nuns were leaving the cloisters.  Some sisters nearby asked Luther what they should do now that they didn't agree with the church and their chosen profession.  He arranged for their escape.  On the eve of the Resurrection 1523, twelve bundled nuns were taken from the cloister in empty herring barrels packed in the back of a wagon. Three of the nuns returned to their homes.  The other nine came to see Luther!  

Luther took it on himself to find homes, husbands, or positions for all nine women.  He stated that he would not marry one because he expected daily the death of a heretic.

Luther At Home

Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther has a chapter on the building of Luther's character.  It is an inside look at Luther's home life. I found this humorous because I would tend to think that our Martin Luther's character was constantly being put to a test with the controversy surrounding him because of his arguing against the papist abuses and heretical teaching.   The author Roland H. Bainton  points out that after Luther's wedding he begin to feel that marriage was a school for character.  It displaced the monastery which up until then was thought of as the training ground of virtue and a sure ticket to heaven.

Luther's children were the same as yours and mine.  Darling to him, but full of mischief.  It seems that the babies cries were particularly hard on Luther. In the middle of one child's crying experience Luther said, "Child, what have you done that I should love you so?  You have disturbed the whole household with your bawling."  Another time when a baby cried for an hour, he remarked, "This is the sort of thing that has caused the Church fathers to vilify marriage.  But God before the last day has brought back marriage and the magistracy to their proper esteem."

My favorite quote about babies was declared after being the brunt of his neighbors' amusement when hanging out the diapers to dry.  "Let them laugh.  God and the angels smile in heaven."  LOVE THAT!!!

Whoever has the key to the heart . . .

When I was about 13 or 14, my dad bought a ring.  A ring with a heart.  A ring to wear on my left hand reserving the place for another ring which would be placed on my hand by a man, a real man who would have won my love.  He also bought a key.  The key has a heart shape upon the top.  This key is the key to the heart I wear on my finger.  One day, a man will come, I believe.  He will come and he will ask the bold question of whether he might have this heart which my dad has so long and carefully protected.  An audacious question, yet one that God gives men the ability to ask and gives fathers the ability to grant.  Upon the day when there stands in front of a small crowd a pastor and this same man, my dad will take me, walk up to this man and there give the key to my heart to him.  The key will pass from one hand to another, my allegiance will have to change and there I will be vowed to serve this man the rest of my days.  

The groom I still wish I had

I am working on being content.  Often I am content, even more than content in my present situation, but then there are those times when I am not.  Yes, I do want to be married, I do want a man so in love with God that he hates me in comparison.  I want a man that, as I decided in high school, is pursuing the list of the 12 Knightly Virtues.

I used to also want a man that was tallish, with dark, wavy, thick hair.  One with dark eyes and skin.  Maybe even one with an accent as my sister's man had.  How romantic does that sound?  Well, alas, I think that wonderful dream has disappeared.  My prayers have instead turned toward this man's heart, his ministry to the Lord, and his growth in the knowledge and love of God.  

I have asked God for a great man.  My prayers have been for a man with a heart to serve God as Luther and Bonhoeffer had.  Only recently have I begun to think of what this would really mean.  I have been greatly humbled in reflection of what this man, if God were to give him to me, would have to deal with in having me given to him.  So then, my prayers have also turned to becoming the kind of woman that this kind of man would need.  Praying for such a thing is like praying for hardship and trials, yet God is good and gentle and kind and He is a wonderful master and teacher to me.  

After some discussion about this with my mom and dad I have changed my attitude a bit towards this man who will someday be mine.  If I have met this man or if I meet him in the future, my desires now are to behave toward him in a God honoring way.

My Groom

Sitting on our beds in my little room, a new friend and I had a great discussion on our groom.  You didn't know I had one?  Oh! but I do!  He is wonderful, beautiful, magnificent, strong, kind, loving, submissive, faithful beyond imagination, a servant and yet a king.  My friend lit up as she described this wonderful groom in her life.  "Why, I wouldn't mind being single my whole life just knowing that He is mine!"  We will not always be single even if we don't get married till the day we die. Because, on that day, we will see Him!  Her groom and my groom is one and the same.  He is our redeemer Jesus Christ.  This wonderful groom did not only find me and love me but He redeemed me from a wretched and fallen state from which I had no hope of salvation.  He then protects, guides, and watches over me.  He calls me to walk worthy of my position as bride (of which I fail miserably) and He is the head of my life.  In a strange and yet wonderful way, He not only has done this and is this for me, but He is this for all other believers.  Marian and I continued to talk about this wonderful groom and how, really, we are most happy when we give ourselves completely to Him.  She said it really is not that hard, just tell Him I am Yours and let Him do as He wills.  Well, I must admit I find it hard, but I don't want to and I was so encouraged by our little talk.

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, 

as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 

"Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, 

and His wife has made herself ready."  

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, 

for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Is He a Man and a King? Be Careful Young Ladies...

A Woman’s Question

By Lena Lathrop

Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing

Ever made by the Hand above?

A woman’s heart, and a woman’s life-

And a woman’s wonderful love.

Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing

As a child might ask for a toy?

Demanding what others have died to win,

With the reckless dash of a boy.

You have written my lesson of duty out,

Manlike, you have questioned me.

Now stand at the bars of my woman’s soul

Until I shall question thee.

You require your mutton shall always be hot,

Your socks and your shirt be whole;
I require your heart be true as God’s stars

And as pure as His heaven your soul.

You require a cook for your mutton and beef,

I require a far greater thing;

A seamstress you’re wanting for socks and shirts-

I look for a man and a king.

A king for the beautiful realm called Home,

And a man that his Maker, God,

Shall look upon as He did on the first

And say: “It is very good.”

I am fair and young, but the rose may fade

From this soft young cheek one day;

Will you love me then ‘mid the falling leaves,

As you did ‘mong the blossoms of May?

Is your heart an ocean so strong and true,

I may launch my all on its tide?

A loving woman finds heaven or hell

On the day she is made a bride.

I require all things that are grand and true,

All things that a man should be;

If you give this all, I would stake my life

To be all you demand of me.

If you cannot be this, a laundress and cook

You can hire and little to pay;

But a woman’s heart and a woman’s life

Are not to be won that way.