Eccl. 2:10. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. That is, “I extended myself even further and wanted to enjoy all these good things that I had prepared, but it was not allowed. I wanted this to be my portion in life, but God does not permit me to decide these pleasures by my own counsel; He continually put various obstacles in my way. When I wanted to enjoy my pleasures and my gardens, the business of the realm called me away; there were judicial decisions to be handed down, conflicts to be adjudicated and settled, etc. Thus I could not decide my happiness by my own counsel.” …. Is this not the height of vanity, that a king who has such wealth and such an abundance of everything is not able by his own counsel to enjoy even one of this infinite number of things? And if he does enjoy one, he must enjoy it in snatches. So utterly are we unable to control or govern or comprehend things by our own counsel. Therefore let everyone freely enjoy the things that are present, as God has given them. Let him permit them to be granted or withdrawn, to come or to go, according to the Lord’s will. When things are going well, let him think that they can go badly, and vice versa, so that he does not, like the wicked, wallow and drown in pleasures. And there was nothing to be gained under the sun. On the basis of his own plans he has nothing but trouble and misery. The things themselves are good, to be sure, but our efforts are vain. We prescribe rules or methods of use for them, even though they do not permit themselves to be regulated by us. (Luther’s Works, v.15 p.37-38)

This is also how it happens in domestic matters, in marriage and in the rearing of children. You think about marrying a wife, one who is well-mannered, chaste, pleasant, a good mother. But it can happen that you get a wife whose manner is completely different, one who is very bad, or who, even though she may be truly good, still leaves much to be desired for you. You think about how to rear your sons to be decent and useful to the state. But behold, contrary to your expectation they become criminals or scoundrels of some other kind, useless burdens on the earth. Is that a reason to desert my home and my domestic responsibilities, because I see that nothing succeeds for all my diligence and that nothing responds to my labors? No. What, then? One must rule his household, found a family, educate his children, and rule his wife, but in such a way that it happens without your measure and rule, that you do not trust in your own wisdom. If your son is suited for learning the liberal arts, let him learn them; if he is suited for a craft, let him learn that. The important thing is that you do not exceed your own limits, but commit the entire outcome and success to God. (Luther’s Works, v.15 p.35)