Graphic designed by Lisa Bartelt, one of my awesome readers!
Growing up I was a PK, church lingo for Pastor’s Kid.
My dad was a Lutheran Pastor. And I grew up in the church. Not literally, of course. We usually lived in a parsonage, often one that was next door to the church. But my life centered around attending potlucks, Sunday School, potlucks, church, catechism class, potlucks, church related events. Did I mention potlucks? 😉
I confess. Sometimes I played hangman with my brothers in the choir loft instead of listening to sermons. Every once in a while I sneaked communion wafers (those paper thin “crackers” that tasted like paper). Yes, I slid under all of the pews from the front of the church to the back. And yes, I even drew funny pictures on the offering envelopes.
At potlucks I always bypassed five different versions German potato salad in favor of five different versions of homemade chocolate cake. And I could recite the Ten Commandments, Apostles Creed, and Lord’s Prayer in my sleep all at the same time. Okay, so maybe not really.
Ah, those were the good old days. The days before I became a teen and went through a period of being a stupid moronic idiot.
And now that I have teens of my own, I realize exactly just how stupid and moronic I was, especially when it came to thinking I knew better than my wise and extremely loving parents.
Why oh why do teenagers think they’re smarter than their parents?
But I digress.
Granted, the pressure upon PK’s is high. They’re often held to more stringent standards than most kids. Sometimes they get teased by schoolmates for being goodie-goodies—at least I did.
In hindsight, I wish I’d stayed strong during those difficult years of trying to find myself. But thankfully, I had parents who loved me through it all. And when I finally made it to the other side, I was a stronger person because of it.
I learned to love my parents more maturely. I began to embrace my uniqueness. Most of all I developed a deep appreciation for the heritage of faith that had been given to me, including my Lutheran heritage.
One of the questions readers ask me the most regarding my newest book, Luther and Katharina, is what drew me to their story. Besides having a father for a Luther Pastor and growing up Lutheran, I also had an uncle who was a Lutheran Pastor, grandparents and extended relatives on both sides of my family who were devout Lutherans. I went to Lutheran schools and graduated from Lutheran High School in Rockford, IL.
Graphic designed by another one of my awesome readers, Britney Adams! Don’t you just love this quote by Luther?
I grew up immersed in Lutheranism and learned a LOT about Martin Luther. So all of that definitely played a part in drawing me to write my newest book.
But it wasn’t really until I began to study Luther as an adult that I fully appreciated the depth of his wisdom, his strength in the face of persecution, and the constant dangers and threats to his life. Most of all, I was surprised to learn he’d gotten married. To a nun who’d run away from her convent.
So of course, then I had to do research on this nun, Katharina von Bora. Who was she? I was curious to know why she’d become a nun in the first place. What led her to forsake her vows? What was life like for her after escaping her convent knowing that if she was caught and recaptured, she could face persecution and even death for running away?
All of those questions and more reverberated through my mind. And what I really wanted to know was how she’d ended up with Martin Luther. What brought this couple together? It was a forbidden love during a time of incredible turmoil. It was a love that was never-meant-to-happen. So how did it come about?
I’m happy to say that I was able to satisfy all of my answers. And I was even more delighted to get to bring this beautiful love story to life for others!
Hope that you’ll have the chance to read it! (To see additional reader creations, free downloads, a fun Luther quiz, book club info, a playlist, and more, check out my website!)
How about YOU? Any other PK’s have confessions they want to make? 😉 And I’m sure the rest of you non-PK’s (all you not-so-goodie-goodies!) have confessions too! What’s one naughty thing you did in your childhood?
Jody Hedlund
Latest posts by Jody Hedlund (see all)
- Saying Farewell - October 7, 2022
- Another New Book Release - September 16, 2022
- The Beauty of Weddings - September 2, 2022
We pre-ordered this book for our church library and I am very anxious to read this what-sounds-like, an incredible story. Thank you for putting it on the page.
So glad your church library is ordering it, Rebecca! Thank you! And hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I grew up a church piano-player’s kid! At least the preacher’s kids didn’t have to stand in the pulpit beside him. Often I had to sit on the piano bench beside my mother and because she was one of few musicians in our small town, she played for weddings and funerals and any other occasion in any church when called upon. I knew my way through the back doors of the funeral home and every sanctuary because we would have to be the first to arrive and the last to leave. I have a huge collection of “funeral” stories, and have included a good many in books and stories I have had published. I use the art of tasteful humor to write about serious and often tragic subjects. Did you do this writing about “mixed marriage” in this book?
(“mixed marriage”)
I can imagine that you have some REALLY funny funeral stories to share with your readers! 🙂 Sometimes tasteful humor is a great way to diffuse the seriousness of a moment and lighten the pace a little. Good advice!
So excited to have your Luther story in print, Jody. 🙂 And the cover is gorgeous!
I was an EK (elder’s kid) during my teen years, but my dad made sure that I never felt the extra pressure that other church members often put on PKs and EKs. He died when I was only 16, but my mom used to tell stories about how he made sure to insulate us from unfair expectations. She told me about how one crotchety older man from our church (every church has their share) complained to dad about seeing me riding my bike in shorts and how that wasn’t proper. (I was going to tennis practice of all things – scandalous, I know!) He told dad he should make me stop. And my dad in his loving yet firm way assured the man that he found nothing immodest in my clothing and that he wouldn’t be saying anything to me. He took the heat and the responsibility, and I never even knew about it until years later.
Now my husband is an elder and my children are all teens. Thankfully, there have not been many complaints about anything our kids have done, but if incidents do arise, I want to follow my dad’s example. I never want my children to feel burdened by having a father who is a leader in our small church. I don’t want them to feel they have to put up an artificial front to please crotchety congregants. Instead I want them to experience genuine faith as they learn to walk with Jesus.
I love that line – experiencing genuine faith instead of putting up an artificial front. PK or not, that’s a great motto to live by!
Thanks, Joyell. 🙂
Your story of getting criticized for riding a bike in shorts is too funny, Karen! (And kinda sad!) I really love your approach, the importance of being genuine in our faith instead of attempting to please everyone. The fact is, none of us are perfect, and no one should be held to the standards of perfection. I always appreciate when people are real with me about their struggles instead of making it seem like everything in their life is perfect. When we’re real, we “give permission” for others to be real too. 🙂
Luther and Katharina’s real life love story sounds absolutely fascinating! I’m so glad this book is hitting store shelves, Jody. All my best wishes with its release!
Thank you SO much, Becky! 🙂
I was recently in New York and saw original portraits of both Martin Luther and Katharina at The Morgan museum. It made me think of your book.
I’m sure that must have been a fun trip! I’m jealous you got to see original portraits! 🙂
Being raised in a Christian home and church being a part of our lives I’m sure there where many things I did whether church related or just being a kid. Too many to share. LOL.
I hear you, Shirely! I could go on with stories, like the one when my brothers both “cut” their hair right before the day of our church pictures. It made for a lovely family picture! 🙂
I’ll be eager to read this, as I wrote a term paper on Katharina in seminary! I compared her to the Proverbs 31 woman 🙂
She definitely was a Proverbs 31 woman! All that she accomplished was amazing. As you probably recall, she was called the “Morning Star of Wittenberg” because of how early she arose every morning to get started on her work! 🙂
I totally agree with you on the higher standards for PK’s. I didn’t grow up a PK….I was worse….a DK (Deacon’s kid). We’re the ones who got the preachers kids in trouble, and blamed them for everything. We’ve rolled under the pews, till someone hit it with their face and got a bloody nose. We’ve played hide and seek in the dark in the Sanctuary. Even crawled up behind the baptistery where there we’re nothing but 2×4’s to stand on….not a smart idea. We’ve even ‘chucked’ (threw) this off the balcony to see how far we can make them go. Just reading your post brought back so many memories!:)
I remember playing hide and seek in the church building too and going into places that we shouldn’t have! Definitely some good memories! 🙂
I’m not a PK but I grew up going to church practically every time the doors were open. I often heard comments about the preachers’ kids. I also heard more than once that they were the way they were because they spent so much time with the laymen’s kids. There was probably a good mix of both depending on the personalities involved. I am still involved in both local church and district activities, so I see the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thank God for his grace and mercy. Without it, none of us would make it.
I really enjoyed your post and hope to get the opportunity to read your book.
My dad was interim music minister, sunday school and church training teacher and a deacon… it wasn’t until I went to college that he became a pastor, but I think all in all, it was very similar to what PKs go through. My children are now PKs… and my momma-heart hurts for them often enough. For one, they are held to a higher standard but the church (just as their father and I are), secondly– they are the PKs, so sometimes people either want to be their friend or don’t want to be their friend because of who their dad is and third, we move more often than most kids (well, except military kids… they seem to move about the same or more often than us). Anyhow, momma bear has come out a couple of times when a cm (church member) has “corrected” the pks even though they weren’t the only child (or sometimes even the child) doing what was “wrong.” We are all human… give us, but especially the children a break!
That’s great that you’re standing up for your children! As a PK’s wife, I’m sure you’re also held to much higher standards than other women in the church. I can imagine it’s difficult to be real about your struggles without feeling judged!
I was a Baptist Missionary’s Kid which is way worse than PK.
A PK only has not be held to a higher standard for 1 congregation.How about multiple congregations.
Going from church to church speaking and being pu ton display while we were in country then to the mission field having to be the example to everyone at all the missions.
I did learn to speak in front of audiences and perform what I used to call the dog and pony shows. We dressed in ethnic costumes and sang for the congregations.
This is hard when you are an introvert.
Oh wow! I’d never thought about MK’s having even more spotlight. But you’re so right! Not only when you were back in the states, but also representing the gospel on the field. Tough pressure!
Jody, we could be twins. I even have an uncle with the last name of Hedlund. I too am a Lutheran PK. Yes, I can tell stories. My mother actually made communion wafers and I would come home and eat the scraps. They were fresh and so, so good. When I was a teen, I was home alone with a grandmother who was hard of hearing. One night my wild friend and I had a party with lots of kids. The guys found the communion wine in the fridge and ended up in the basement. They found a full case of wine there and took all but the four middle bottles so it looked full. I never did confess my part in that. For the most part I was the active Luther Leaguer. I was active on even the synodical level. I was a work camper, caravaner, and youth missioner. I even became a deaconess. I am looking forward to reading this book. I left the Lutheran church in my twenties but in my seventies I am back. I go to a LCMC (Lutheran Congregations on Mission for Christ) church. My pastor is really heavy on Luther and the Augsburg Confession. Before Christmas we have studies on Luther and the Magnificat.
Hi Nancy,
I chuckled at your wine story! I don’t think my dad ever kept the communion wine at home. So I never ran into that temptation! There is so much rich history within the Lutheran church and as I said, now that I’m older I appreciate it so much more than when I was a child.
Well, I too grew up in Rockford, Illinois, as a pk! We lived across the street in the parsonage-which started out as the first church! Mom had to clean the whole house for Sundays-every room was used and church was in the basement! We were always in the fishbowl and as the 3rd of a great trio of crazy pk’s (all born in the same week in late September) .. . .I created quite a stir when an my shower . . .held after I was born in October sometime . . . one of the board members stood up (whole church shower-guys/gals!!!) and shared that from now on the week between Christmas and New Year’s no one was to pester Pastor Peterson and Dorothy because they might be producing more little Peterson’s for the flock!!! : / Mom was under the table as they say and I love telling the tale. So many stories . . most importantly since Dad wasn’t always faithful to mom . . he lead me to faith in Christ and for that I am forever grateful! Had a chance to share that tonight with a group of kids our church is tutoring . . birthdays are special but spiritual birthdays are the best and salvation/eternal life is the greatest gift ever! Can’t wait to read your book! Thanks so much. Sorry, we aren’t German . . . Swedish Lutherans . . .I thought everyone in Rockford was Swedish! : ) Blessings.