A Beautiful Story of Family Worship

Never in all his life did he attend a more beautiful family worship. That man and his wife loved their children with a true and a genuine love. They meant to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

1921 Carl Manthey-Zorn Concordia Publishing House

The following is the fifth letter from Eunice: Letters of a Fatherly Friend to a Young Christian Mother, pages 13-16, published by Concordia Publishing House in 1921 as a translation from the original German by Rev. Carl Manthey-Zorn. The full book may be read for free at https://archive.org/details/zorn-eunice.

DEAR EUNICE: —

Years ago,—for you know that by this time I am an old retired minister, — years ago I once came into the home of some young married people belonging to my congregation, and was asked to remain for supper, which I did. In fact, I must confess, if they had not invited me, I would have invited myself, for I was hungry, and it was too late for me to go home for supper. And I had a great and especial fondness for this young couple. I had confirmed both the husband and his wife, and had married them. And now I want to tell you of the experience I had there.

When supper was ready, we all sat down at the table,— all of us, for there were five children, ranging in age from nine years down to six months. The father held the baby in his lap, and the next youngest sat in a high chair. Father, the head of the house, said grace, and the three oldest children also said a prayer, in unison. The one in the high chair said, “Abba, Father, Amen”; and baby said, “Abba.” We all ate with a will and were in the best of spirits. When we were through eating, before the father returned thanks, the oldest of the children, a boy, got up and brought a book and laid it before his mother. She looked at her husband, expecting him to say something. And he said to me: “We always have family worship after supper, and Anna [that was the young mother’s name] does the reading, for she can read German better than I. [This was a German family.] But do you do the reading to-day!” “O no,” said I, “I am your guest and join in whatever is your custom.” So Anna read. But papa would always inject some very simple explanations and ask questions of the children, and occasionally the children, especially the five-year-old girl, would ask a question. Then an evening prayer was said, and a short verse was sung. And then father returned thanks. — Never in all my life did I attend a more beautiful family worship.

Then mother cleared the table and washed the dishes. Meanwhile I played with the children and talked with their father, who was of a very cheerful disposition. Then came mother and said the children must now go to bed. And very nicely they all said good night. After a bit the father gave me a sign, placing his finger on his lips, and softly led me to the kitchen door, which stood just a wee bit open. And what did I see? There sat that dear young mother with baby in her lap and all the other four children kneeling . about her, in their night-gowns, and each one saying his prayer. Then mother kissed each one of them, and upon their foreheads made the sign of the holy cross. She did not know that I saw it all.

O blest that house where faith ye find.
And all within have set their mind
To trust their God and serve Him still,
And do in all His holy will!

O blest the parents who give heed
Unto their children’s foremost need,
And weary not of care or cost:
To them and heaven shall none be lost.

— ELH #190

That man and his wife loved their children with a true and a genuine love. They meant to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They did not restrain their children from being cheerful and happy, they were not forever scolding. The tone that prevailed in that house was not forbidding, gloomy, fearful. However, if a child did something that was really bad, it was corrected and punished. Mother especially had to attend to that, for father was away at work all day. But after every punishment there always followed some kind encouragement. Mother would speak about as follows: “Do you see, when you are bad, some little devil is at your ear and whispers: Be bad! And his whispering goes ’way down into your heart. And you cannot drive that away. You must say: Dear Savior, drive that devil away! And then the devil will have to go away.” I must admit that I taught Anna this.

I think I shall add nothing more to this story.

YOUR OLD FRIEND