Corrie Ten Boom was born to Casper and Cornelia Ten Boom in Holland,1892. She was the youngest of five children. She was raised in a very faithful family and was taught to love God and others. God used their family to help others know about him and to set an example of how you can be joyful even in hard times.
When Corrie was a young woman, she was very active and did many things for her community. Corrie taught mentally retarded children about God. They walked many places and learned about God's love for them. Corrie also started many clubs. The walking club, the drama club, the German language club, and the gymnastics club were some of them. Soon it all just came to be "The Triangle Club." These clubs gave the young people in her community something to do and it gave Corrie a chance to tell them about God.
When Corrie was in her fifties, World War 2 came to Holland. It changed everyone's lives. Imagine you are in your fifties and a guy named Hitler gets the idea in his head to wipe out all the Jews. So now Jews are being captured and being put into death camps along with other people who were helping Jews. Now, remember, this is what Corrie had to go through. So your family is hiding Jews and they know exactly what the consequences are. The police haven't searched your house and you are hoping they won't find out. They find out but don't find the Jews. So now you are going to prison. Your father dies there. Now you have to stay there until a train is ready to take a thousand women to the concentration camp. Somehow you find your sister! At the camp the guards almost work you to death. (Remember, you are in your fifties.) Your sister dies in camp, but you survive it all.
After she got out of the concentration camp, Corrie went right back to shining for God and telling people about his love for them. She told people about her experiences and how God helped her have faith in him. Even when her family members died, she remained faithful in God and was able to forgive.
(CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK)
This week think of something bad that has happened and ask God to change it into something good.
Maddie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this very inspirational blog!
I got to see Corrie's house and stand in the hiding place. The day the Nazi's came in and the Jews were rushed into the hiding place, Corrie was extremely sick and in the bed in front of the hiding place wall. The hiding place is so small; it was frightening to see how many people had to stay in there (and for weeks before it was clear for them to get out).
In prison, Corrie struggled with anger towards the Nazis but her sister & the memory of her sister's words after her death motivated her to forgive them and reach out to Jews & Gentiles alike after getting out of the camp. She used to say after all her experiences that "There is no pit/place so dark, that God's love is not deeper still."
Maddie, keep up the good work!
May what you learn from these great heroes of the Christian faith inspire you to treasure your family and make a difference in the world.
Thanks for sharing!
Your Old Friend,
Rebecca Whitman