February 28: Corrie Ten Boom
Corrie Ten Boom and her family were devout Christians, and actively looked for opportunities to put their faith into practice. When Nazzi forces overran the Netherlands in 1940, Corrie’s life took an unexpected turn. As the German occupation combed the country for Jews, the Ten Booms opened their home to the desperate fugitives. The watchmaker shop proved to be the perfect front for an underground safehouse.
A false wall was set up in Corrie’s bedroom that created a tiny space in which to hide. The Gestapo would conduct regular searches of the town. As the secret police arrived, a warning bell would give their Jewish guests one minute to reach the hiding place. The Ten Boom house became a center for an underground system that would aid and protect the fugitives. Corrie became a leader in the resistance movement. It is estimated that 800 Jews were saved through the efforts of the Ten Booms.
On February 28, 1944, the Gestapo received word from an informant of the Ten Boom’s activities. That day, they raided the house and arrested the entire family. Corrie’s father died of illness in a Nazzi prison shortly after. Corrie and her sister, Betsy, were transferred to the infamous Ravensbrueck concentration camp in Germany. Meanwhile, the six Jews at the Ten Boom house were rescued by Dutch resistance after three days in hiding.
The harsh treatment, brutal labour, malnourishment, and exposure proved overwhelming, and Betsy died in December, 1944. Corrie, however, was unexplainably released shortly after. Following the war, she began a ministry that rehabilitated concentration camp survivors. She devoted the remaining 33 years of her life to serving those hurt by the war, regardless of what side they had been on.
Her autobiography, The Hiding Place reveals a story of relentless faith and unfathomable forgiveness.
Verse of the day: Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
What is truly amazing is that Corrie Ten Boom was at a speaking engagement at a church in Munich. There a former Nazi came up to her who had been a guard in Ravensbrück. He did not recognize Corrie as a former prisoner. He said:
“But since that time,” he went on, “I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fräulein”–again the hand came out–“will you forgive me?”
And she stood there and said to herself, "I whose sins had every day to be forgiven–and could not. Betsie had died in that place–could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?"
She explained, "It could not have been many seconds that he stood there, hand held out, but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do."
For I had to do it–I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. “If you do not forgive men their trespasses,” Jesus says, “neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
I knew it not only as a commandment of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality.
Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.
And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion–I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.
“Jesus, help me!” I prayed silently. “I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.”
And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.
“I forgive you, brother!” I cried. “With all my heart!”
What an incredible testimony! What a godly example Corrie Ten Boom was!"
Blessings in Yeshua, Steven Sherman, Jewish believer and fellow steemian
Wow,what a great service of humanitarian service,great sacrifice.
Growing up Corrie Ten Boom was one of those I was made to know from my very early days, her great works,her devoutness and commitment are encouragements to me especially as a lady. She lived faithful till the very day. I pray God helps me and every one of us to live faithful till the very last day
Wow this post is listed in trending! Congrats.
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nice to know about her...its takes a big heart to forgive and forget...God bless us all and give us all the strength to learn to forgive all who hurt us unconditionally Amen
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