I Love Lucy but Admire Kate

So today I ate lunch in front of the TV. I ate a healthy meal after my 30 min. treadmill ride. Somehow that justifies eating in front of the TV. The Hallmark channel is having an "I Love Lucy" marathon. I started the episode about mid way through. It was the famous "chocolate factory" episode. It was as enjoyable as I remember it. This episode was back in the day when home making was the norm and working outside the home was the exception. Ricky and Fred apparently were not pleased with Lucy and Ethel's spending habits. The girls go to work and Ricky and Fred keep the home. Of course, the guys fail at housekeeping and the girls at the factory get whooped. I got to thinking of another homemaker I read about while on the treadmill today, Kate.

Kate:

• Her mother died when she was 5 years old.
• She was raised in a boarding school, convent.
• She escapes with 12 other women from the convent in the back of a truck among barrels of herring.
• She marries a man whom she doesn't know if he loves her.
• She buries two children.
• She called herself ordinary.
• She was the wife of Reformist, Martin Luther.

I don't admire her hardships by any means, after all I have my own struggles. I admire her way of life with Martin Luther. She endured. She was dedicated. She had spunk and she was strong. You see she actually was an extraordinary woman, not because she was the wife of Martin Luther, but because of what she allowed God to do through her.

I reported on New Year's eve that I wanted to be a better mom, wife, and homemaker. I didn't know then what God would show me today in the life of Kate Luther. You see when I tend to whine about my circumstances and life challenges, I need to remember to check my attitude and remember the examples of Godly women of times past.

Martin Luther was instrumental in finding husbands for 10 of the 12 nuns who escaped the convent. 1 of the nuns chose not to marry. Kate was the other nun after 2 years away from the convent, she was still not married. Martin Luther chose to propose to Kate after being urged by friends and conviction from God. The proposal went like this: "Katherine, God has put it in my heart to take a wife, and He has directed me to you. Will you marry me?" Kate doubted Martin Luther's love. They were married that very evening. Kate endured town gossip in regards to her quick marriage.

Kate's newly married life included cleaning the parsonage, an old monastery, named Black Cloister. The parsonage had 40 rooms. She straightened up her husband's mess of household finances. Mr. Luther was very unorganized. She planted vegetable gardens, stocked ponds on the property with fish, and raised cows and chickens.

Kate had frequent house guests she had to tend to, such as seminary students, boarders, parishioners, and visiting dignitaries. To top it all, she had moved in her husband's sister's 6 children and her own aunt. History has it that it wasn't unusual for Kate and Martin to entertain 100 guests at a time. Their home became a hospital for the sick and dying during "the plague". Kate lost a baby at 8 months old and another child at 13 years old. Kate had the joy of six children and the deep sorrow of losing 2 of them. She maintained her household and all the while resisted and endured the attacks of verbal abuse and murder threats from Catholic church leaders and kings and princes of the world.

So why do I admire the lovely Kate? It sure isn't her lifestyle. It is her dedication to her home, husband and family. She didn't care if her husband didn't love her...so she thought. She looked ahead and planned. She persevered in her giving. She did this with little or no time for herself. I think of how I don't mind home keeping but I am sure to demand my "pamper" or "down time". Though I admire Kate, I need to remind myself that it is not who she is that I admire but again it is what she allowed God to do through her. You see when Kate was mourning the loss of her 13 year old daughter she was bed ridden and inconsolable. It was wondered if she would continue to serve the God as before. Kate responded after her mourning "I will cleave to the Lord Christ as the burr to the cloth." When I am tried and exhausted, I want to remember her words. I want to cleave to my Lord Jesus Christ.

Some side notes:

• Martin Luther assured Kate of his love.
• Luther was known to tell his wife that he loved waking up to her pigtails on the pillow next to his.
• Luther referred to Kate as "Kitty my Rib".
• He also called her "Lord Kate" as she strictly took care of their finances and household.
• He bought Kate a farm in the country. Sadly they never moved to the farm as their ministry remained in the city.
• Martin Luther died in 1546.

As for Kate, she also was known to have a sense of humor and wit. She was very resourceful and wise. You may know the famous story of how she dressed up to pull her husband out of a "funk", here it is:

Martin Luther, whom she called "dear doctor", was in a deep depression. For weeks, Luther would not eat, sleep, work, but he would worry. Kate donned mourning clothes, black veil and all. She went up to her husband's study. Martin Luther was startled and asked Kate, "Who died?". Kate cried out " Oh, it is terrible! God is dead!" Luther responded, "God is dead? What in heaven's name are you talking about?" Kate replies, "Well, judging from the way you have been acting the past few weeks, God must be dead. If He weren't, you would use your great faith in Him to help you out of this lethargy." Martin Luther got busy serving God again after her little dress up number.

Ladies, I want to allow God to work in me. I just don't always let him. I guess I think I know better....what's up with that? If I am to be real and try to be a better wife, mom and home keeper then I need to be obedient and step aside. Right now however I think my life models more of a I Love Lucy episode. She is funny, undirected and a hopeless romantic.