The Treasure of Marriage

Marriage is a sacred rite, in that two people solemnly covenant before God and in His name to live in holy bonds of matrimonial relationship until death parts them. But back of marriage are the privileges and the functionings, the duties and the division of labor that involve a family, that normally requires children.

1923 The Northwestern Lutheran

The following article is taken from the April 1923 issue of The Northwestern Lutheran, Volume 10, Number 8, on pp. 121. A PDF scan of the original issue may be found in the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Digital Library.

Not long ago in crossing the street we met a young woman pushing a baby carriage. In it lay her first born child, a daughter. She roused from sleep as the coach stopped swinging, and big, round eyes gazed squarely, innocently, and fearlessly into ours. The mother was proud of the health and growing intelligence of her baby.

We know some of the “facts” about this first born. Her coming was the source of joyous anticipation by the expectant parents, but the travail of birth was a severe trial. The first months were difficult. The baby did not thrive. The situation was made more depressing by an economic disturbance which compelled the young father to seek work and to accept a sort of employment for which he had had no preliminary training. The circumstances were the kind that often are permitted to discourage and separate young people.

But these two had their baby, each other, friends, parents and Christian faith. “They managed some-how.” The baby weathered the difficult first year. The father found a place to work. The mother mastered the routine of domestic life and maternity. They (and they means three souls) have won their first great battle in family life. The man and the woman have each other and they have their child.

“Your husband should be a proud man,” we said to the young mother. Her face fairly shone when she replied: “He is; he can hardly wait to get home at night.” These people are happy.

Marriage is a sacred rite, in that two people solemnly covenant before God and in His name to live in holy bonds of matrimonial relationship until death parts them. But back of marriage are the privileges and the functionings, the duties and the division of labor that involve a family, that normally requires children. Happiness based on parentage is a part of the marital promise. Unless there are obstacles of unusual sort happiness is not complete without children. Where flippant and artificial objections to children dominate husband and wife, they cannot expect God to provide them the compensations for life’s difficulties that yield contentment. “The Mystery” with which marriage is creatively endowed is thus rigorously locked out and the distinctive reason for marital grace is thereby excluded. We could tell you of an instance in which a young married person has chosen “a career.” To succeed she must not have children. She has wrecked a home. She will reap passing applause from crowds. She has, however, broken her solemn promise — not only to her husband but to her God.

Some sorts of “New freedom” are really forms of infidelity.

The Lutheran