The Hiding Place: A Book Worth Reading
In heaven, I want to meet Corrie Ten Boom. I want to give her a hug and thank her for sharing her life story that humbles and inspires me each time I read it. I also want to ask her, “How were you able to be so strong? What helped you not give up? How were you able to forgive?”
The book, The Hiding Place, tells the true story of Corrie Ten Boom running a watch repair business outside of Amsterdam with her sister, Betsie, and their father. She was in her 50’s when Hitler’s German army seized Holland and began persecuting Jews. Being devout Christians, the Ten Boom family protected Jews by becoming involved in a stealthy underground effort. They were eventually captured and imprisoned for their “crimes” against the Germans. Corrie and her sister lived in several concentration camps, sharing and showing their faith with anyone who would listen, while enduring horrific conditions.
My favorite story is when they were moved to a barracks that was filled with fleas. She asks her sister, Betsie, “how can we live in such a place!” Betsie, reading from the Bible, discovers the verse that advises, “give thanks in all circumstances.” And so together they begin to identify what they are thankful for in that moment. They were together. They kept their Bible because there wasn’t an inspection on arrival where it would have been taken from them. The crowding in the living conditions enabled them to speak of God with more women. And then Betsie said, “Thank you…for the fleas…” Corrie couldn’t imagine how one could be thankful for fleas.
“’Give us thanks in all circumstances,’” Betsie quoted. “It doesn’t say, ‘in pleasant circumstances.’” Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.”
And so, we stood between piers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.”
In the days to come, the blessing of fleas was revealed as guards avoided searching the barracks and the sisters were able to keep their beloved Bible. Ah, can we give thanks in all circumstances, even for a very small bug called coronavirus!
This book is filled with stories of faith, courage, and forgiveness. While Corrie’s experience was years ago, her story is so valuable for us today as we journey through a pandemic. John and Elizabeth Sherrill who first met Corrie and assisted her in documenting her life story noted, ‘We commented to her (Corrie) about the practicalness of everything she recalled, how her memories seemed to throw a spotlight on problems and decisions we faced here and now. “But, she said, “this is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.’”
In honor of Mother’s Day, let me share another wonderful quote from The Hiding Place. Corrie’s wise mother taught Corrie this lesson: “Happiness isn’t something that depends on our surroundings, Corrie. It’s something we make inside ourselves.”
Wishing all wise mothers a Happy Mother’s Day and a wish for all of us to find happiness inside ourselves by finding thanks in all circumstances.
To learn more about resilience, watch my 15-minute videos posted below or on YouTube titled “Let’s Be Resilient Together”. There will be six episodes published.