Posts Tagged ‘gratitude’

Attitude of Gratitude
by Vicki Campbell

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

When I think of earthly heroes and those whom I greatly admire, Corrie ten Boon is high on my list. She and her family were responsible for hiding and helping the Jews in World War II, thus spending years being tortured in concentration camps. Upon their arrival to Ravensbruck, near Berlin, Corrie and her sister, Betsie were placed in a filthy, overcrowded barracks infested with lice. In her 50’s, this was more than Corrie felt that she could bear.

They were determined to be Christian witnesses and examples, even in these adverse circumstances. Corrie had even smuggled in a Bible with God’s help. However, that night as they lay down to sleep, with tears streaming down her cheeks, Corrie whispered to Betsie that she didn’t know how she could ever be thankful for the lice.

Betsie, being the eldest and seeing things from a different perspective, responded with excitement. She had already heard the talk spreading amongst the women that because of the lice, the guards wouldn’t come into that particular barracks. Guards were known not only to physically torture women prisoners, but also to sexually abuse them. Betsie excitedly assured Corrie that because of the lice, they wouldn’t have to face that abuse while dwelling in that God-provided shelter. She elatedly explained that because of the lice, they would also have the freedom to read the Bible, and even have Bible studies with other women, without fear of the guards coming in and confiscating their Bible. Through this, Corrie learned that she could even be thankful for lice.

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