One of my all-time favorite stories that illustrates the idea of being continually thankful comes from the book The Hiding Place by Corrie TenBoom.
Corrie and her sister Betsie get put in a Concentration camp for hiding and protecting Jewish people during World War II. They endure many hardships and suffering during thier imprisonment. At the climax of the conflict they are transfered to a new camp. When they arrive in their new barracks, they are horrified to discover that their beds are infested with fleas and lice. This discovery pushes both sisters to the breaking point. How can they possibly survive this new place?!?
Betsie insists that they pray. She reminds Corrie that they should "give thanks continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Corrie looks at her sister in disbelief. What is there to be thankful for in this horrible place? By the looks of things... not much.
But, Betsie is thankful for the fact they are together. And Corrie responds, "yes, God, thank-you."
Betsie is thankful they were able to bring their Bible, and Corrie responds, "yes, God, thank-you."
And then, Betsie says, "thank-you God for the fleas." And Corrie again looks up in horror and disbelief. HOW can she be thankful for fleas?!? But, Betsie is insistent. The scripture says to give thanks in ALL circumstances. And, that means, giving thanks for fleas. So, finally, Corrie gives in and says, "thank-you God for the fleas."
Now, there is an amazing (it really is amazing) part 2 to this story, but I'll make you wait until Sunday to hear the end.
In the mean time, here are some questions for reflection:
What are the "fleas" in your life?
What are the things you can be thankful for in spite of the "fleas"?
And, have you ever tried giving thanks for the "fleas"?
Challenge yourself this week to be thankful for the fleas.
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3 comments:
Hello! My name is Nika! I so like your blog! We are from Russia. My husband and I to work with students. We organize many clubs to construct attitudes friendship and to speak them about the Christ. I have ladys club, we to do hand made cards, scrapbook, quilt and crosstitch. It is good opportunity to testify about our God and His love! Every Saturday I have craft club for ladyes. We do cards, quilt, crochet, cross stitch too. It very not usual and new to Russian culture. I to study from different blogs how to make cards, made quilt and to use different technics. We are missionary to the Far East Russia. We are russian. We live in city Birobidzhan, it is the Jewish region in Russia. A lot of Jews live here. They have synagogues and to celebrate religious holidays. But many of them do not know the Christ. We have 2 daughters. Polina is 8 years and Liliya is 2 years.And if you are interesting about us I shall be glad give answer to you. I will glad if you can write me.Sorry my English.
You can vizit to my blog http://christforchristglory.blogspot.com
and our family ministry blog
http://fareastrussiaforgodsglory.blogspot.com
Can I ask if you can halp to our ministry, here in Russia? Nika
zn4hisglory4@gmail.com
Greetings Sister Nika; welcome to our discussion! With your experience as a missionary and home-church planter in a small isolated community in post-Soviet Siberian Russia, I would be very interested in your perspective on Corrie TenBoom's witness.
It is sometimes difficult for me in my safe and cozy home, and my safe and comfortable church to understand either the true depths of despair or the celestial heights of conquering hope; how can we know one without the other?
What are the "fleas" Nika that have made your family strong enough to answer the call of your mission? How have you reacted to trials; can you imagine thanking God for them?
Compared to the TenBooms' challenges in a nazi concentration camp, or the Aksutins' challenges in remote Siberia, my personal "fleas" seem petty! The annoying bites of fear, doubt and worry; a plague of biting insects upon Pharaoh. "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength." (Corrie)
Fleas were the disease vector for the bubonic plague that wiped out more than half of Europe. Fear too is a vector, for sins like greed, corruption and pride. Continuing the analogy, if germs are our sins, and fears are our fleas, what then is the disease host, it's rat? The Satan found in Job?
I can mix no potion or buy no pesticide that works. Only God's grace can keep the rats at bay. Only God's Spirit can help me to live with the bites. Only God's Son's death can inoculate me from death to sin. "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still." (Betsy)
I am thankful for the Betsies, Corries, and Nikas that God puts in our lives. For the Cayces blessing a young girl with a soft bed to die on. For hopeful Marie in hopeless Haiti. For all those who prove to me that God is amoung us in a flea-infested world. That beauty still can be found among the pestilence. Thank you all you saints.
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