The Grief of Parents

Isaac is a very saintly patriarch, the father of the promise; Rebecca is a very saintly woman and the mother of the same promise. But Esau was born from their flesh and blood. He longs for their death, and he himself plans to bring it about. Of what will we not have to be afraid? But the grief of parents is far more piercing and far bitterer than that of children, than that of brothers or relatives. For there are very great and intense emotions that God has created in the whole nature of things and has implanted in parents toward their offspring. And if at any time their hearts are wounded by grief or sorrow on account of a misfortune suffered by children, this is a very real plague and a poison for their lives. Therefore parents are easily killed, if not by the sword, then by sorrow and grief. I myself have seen that many very honorable parents were slain by godless children because of sadness of heart. Young people neither consider nor understand this. But children should be taught and warned, lest they become murderers of mothers and murderers of fathers.

Luther, “Lectures on Genesis, Chapters 26 to 30, 1542ff.,” LW 5, pp. 163–164)