HELP WANTED: Pastor's wife. Must sing, play music, lead youth groups, raise seraphic children, entertain church notables, minister to other wives, have ability to recite Bible backward and choreograph Christmas pageants. Must keep pastor sated, peaceful and out of trouble. Difficult colleagues, demanding customers, erratic hours. Pay: $0.
There is no doubt in my mind that the “job” of Pastor’s wife is a difficult and demanding one. The prospect of which I find daunting, to say the least.
My guess would be that the basic job description for a clergy wife hasn’t changed that much since Martin and Katharina took their wedding vows. So, with this job description, how are all of the Katie Luthers out there supposed to find time for their own careers?
Marty and I have been struggling with this issue for the last few months. My dear Marty has all the faith in the world that I can undertake the challenge with ease and confidence. I, on the other hand, worry about how I can keep my job (which I love) and still be everything to everyone in his upcoming call.
I do find encouragement in the life of Katharina Luther. I have studied her in detail over that last few months. I have learned that she zealously took on the task of managing Luther’s vast holdings. She bred and sold cattle, managed a brewery, and nursed the ill. Luther referred to her as the “boss of Zulsdorf”. And he even teased her for her tendency of waking at 4am to care for her many responsibilities.
Truly, I am in awe of her oomph! How did she have the energy to keep up both the responsibilities of being Luther’s wife and also have not just one, but three jobs? I know that some of this came from necessity. Luther’s position demanded hospitably; yet their money was limited. Katharina had to find a way to be frugal, while still keeping an open table for friends and students.
Maybe Katharina, like me, found it overwhelming. I wonder how she found her balance? Did she say “well, I can sing, but not play music”. Did she tell Luther “Marty, dear. I will rear our own seraphic children, but you are responsible for the youth in our parish.” I’d like to think she agreed to keep Luther sated and out of trouble in exchange for him reciting the Bible backward! LOL!
I might be grasping at straws here, but I believe no one person can live up the standard of Pastor’s Wife alone. It MUST be a partnership between my Marty and me, filled with love, compromise, understanding and above all…faith.
I don’t yet know if I will keep my job when Marty gets his first church, but I do know he supports me in whatever choice I feel I need to make.
Blessings+
Katie Luther
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