What amazed me most was the strong influence of the Holy Ghost in their lives. These women were good. They struggled with their difficult situation but they truly tried to do what was asked of them. They searched diligently to do his will. Once their situation became what we would consider unbearable the teachings they had known their whole lives took on truth. It was no longer bible stories, it was reality. What examples of faith these women share for all is something to be desired.
Two powerful points stuck out to me above others.
When Corrie and her sister Betsie arrived at yet another camp that was more crowded and more filthy and less cared for then the one before. The interchange between these two sister. " " 'Betsie, How can we live like this?"
"Show us. Show us how." It was said so matter of factly it took me a second to realize she was praying. More and more the distinction between prayer and the rest of life seemed to be vanishing for Betsie."
The answer then came to them through a memory of a verse they had read in the bible earlier that day.
"That's it Corrie! That's His answer. 'Give thanks in all circumstances!' That's what we can do."
They then start to name off simply thing Gods have given them. Betsy even suggests being thankful for the fleas. That is such a stretch for Corrie. She replies, "There's no way even God can make me grateful for fleas."
"'Give thanks in all circumstances' " Betsie quoted. "It doesn't say 'in pleasant circumstances.' Fleas are part of this place where God has put us."
Later in the story you learn how she was able to give hope and peace to many women because they were infested with fleas. The guards did not want to come into their barracks because of those blessed fleas.
Would I consider to give thanks for fleas? What are the fleas in my life that will turn into potential blessings if I can allow my Father in Heaven to turn them into such?
The next amazing point that stuck out to me?
Betsie was very clear about what their after war life would be like. She would describe it in great detail. They were going to have a beautiful, large home were those who had suffered from the war would come to heal physical and emotional hurt. She talked about gardening being an essential key to recovery and forgiveness.
"I would stare at Betsie in amazement as she would talk of these things. She spoke always as though she were describing things that she saw-as if that wide winding staircase and those bright gardens were the reality, this cramped and filthy barracks the dream."
Betsie dies in those barracks. When Corrie was released and given the chance she shared her sister dream. After one of her speaking engagements a women came to her and expressed that she felt very strongly that her missing son, who was fighting for the resistance, would come home and to express her gratitude she would offer up her house to be used for Betsie's vision. When Corrie was walking the grounds of the house for the first time she was shown the beautiful gardens and then looked towards the house. With hesitance she asked if it had wood floors and other details her sister had described. The lady asked if she had been there before. She said no but that she had heard about it.
How amazing it is that Heavenly Father can give us glimpses of our future so that we have something to hold on to and work for.
The power of our mind is so much grander then we realize. I think this book has helped me to see how we can truly rely on the one who has created all things and trust in his goodness. He can put into our hearts what we need when the time comes. He can give us courage in our hour of need. He can mold us into what we are asked to accomplish. We don't have to be anything more then what he needs us to be at the time he needs us to accomplish it. No need to worry about tomorrow when we can truly trust that he can take care of today.
"And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When he tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself" Corrie Ten Boom
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