IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

During World War Two, Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom were prisoners in a nazi concentration camp. They lived in cramped barracks, similar to kennels. Platforms were stacked three high, and straw was spread as bedding where the girls were kept. These communal beds were filled with hundreds of women. Nausea, diarrhea, menstrual issues were common problems within the cramped quarters. Upon the first hour in these horrible conditions Corrie began to complain. She was bitten by a flea and hit her head on the platform above her. She soon realized the place was swarming with fleas. Her older sister Betsie, reminded her of the Bible that they had slipped into the barracks. She opened back up to the morning devotion from 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18: “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”Betsie said, “We must start now to thank God for everything about the camp.“ This frustrated Corrie. Then Betsie began to thank God for being together, for being able to sneak in a Bible, even for the crowded quarters, because that would be many more souls they would be able to share the good news of Christ with. Then Betsie said, “We must even thank God for the fleas!”Corrie cut in on her sister saying, “There’s no way God can make me thankful for these fleas, that’s too much.“ During the days, the girls were sent in different directions in forced labor. Weeks later, Corrie came back to find her sister smiling. She began to tell her what she had overheard among the guards. Although the conditions were deplorable, they had privacy to read their Bible and to pray. The guards who were ruthless did not come back into the barracks and did not violate the women. That day Betsie overheard why the guards would not go back into the women’s sleeping quarters. She heard them talking about the swarming fleas!She smiled and told her sister, “This is why we thank God in all circumstances.”