Inspirational People: Corrie ten Boom
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
This is Day 8 of a 31 Day writing challenge. To read more about my 31 Days series and to catch up on any posts you've missed, be sure to check out my post 31 Days of INSPIRE!
Out of all the inspirational people who have ever lived, probably the one who inspires and amazes me the most is Corrie ten Boom.
Out of all the inspirational people who have ever lived, probably the one who inspires and amazes me the most is Corrie ten Boom.
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| Courtesy of christianity.com |
Born on April 15th, 1892, Cornelia "Corrie" ten Boom is best known for being a survivor of the Holocaust and the author of best-selling book, "The Hiding Place."
Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie ten Boom- along with their father, Casper ten Boom- opened their home in Harlem as a shelter to Jews during World War II. Their bravery and dedication to helping the persecuted Jews of Holland eventually cost them their freedom, but saved the lives of all but one of the people in their "hiding place."
Corrie and Betsie both ended up in prison, and later in concentration camps. They endured some of the most horrific circumstances known to man, yet they still remained dedicated to sharing the love of God. They started Bible studies in their barracks, and many women became Christians because of Corrie and Betsie's faith.
Betsie ten Boom died in Ravensbrück concentration camp, but Corrie survived. In December of 1944- ten months after she was first imprisoned- Corrie ten Boom was released. She later learned that it was through a "clerical error", and that she had left only a week before she would have been killed.
After returning to her home in Holland, she went on to open a refuge home not only for the surviving Dutch-Jews, but also those who had worked alongside the Nazis- the very people who had betrayed her family.
Several years later, she wrote the "The Hiding Place," and toured the world telling her story. In one article from Guidepost Magazine, 1972, she says-
Corrie ten Boom's message of forgiveness is what makes her such an inspiring woman. Even though she witnessed one of the darkest periods of history, she was still able to love.
Because of her example, I know that you don't have to be perfect to forgive others. In fact, it is because we are not perfect that we can forgive the people who have wronged us.
Because of what God has already done for us, we too can love our enemies.
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My question for you is this- who inspires you? What makes their story or character so inspiring?
Corrie and Betsie both ended up in prison, and later in concentration camps. They endured some of the most horrific circumstances known to man, yet they still remained dedicated to sharing the love of God. They started Bible studies in their barracks, and many women became Christians because of Corrie and Betsie's faith.
Betsie ten Boom died in Ravensbrück concentration camp, but Corrie survived. In December of 1944- ten months after she was first imprisoned- Corrie ten Boom was released. She later learned that it was through a "clerical error", and that she had left only a week before she would have been killed.
After returning to her home in Holland, she went on to open a refuge home not only for the surviving Dutch-Jews, but also those who had worked alongside the Nazis- the very people who had betrayed her family.
Several years later, she wrote the "The Hiding Place," and toured the world telling her story. In one article from Guidepost Magazine, 1972, she says-
It was in a church in Munich that I saw him. [...] It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights, the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor, the shame of walking naked past this man. [...] Betsie and I had been arrested for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; this man had been a guard at Ravensbrück concentration camp where we were sent. [...] "You mentioned Ravensbrück in your talk," he was saying. "I was a guard in there. [...] 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. Fraulein, ..." his hand came out, ... "will you forgive me?" And I stood there — 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? 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. [...] 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!" I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then.
Corrie ten Boom's message of forgiveness is what makes her such an inspiring woman. Even though she witnessed one of the darkest periods of history, she was still able to love.
Because of her example, I know that you don't have to be perfect to forgive others. In fact, it is because we are not perfect that we can forgive the people who have wronged us.
Because of what God has already done for us, we too can love our enemies.
...
My question for you is this- who inspires you? What makes their story or character so inspiring?
13 comments
Thank you for sharing this famous, very special person. I have read the Hiding Place as well as the story in Guideposts that you shared. It is not easy to forgive someone who has wronged you; but God does tell us we should do just that. I found myself having to forgive the man who viciously attacked me and left me for dead - not in person as Corrie ten Boom did; but forgive him I did. I was not going to let him continue to make ME the victim by holding it all inside. I know what Corrie ten Boom did - what she went through in the concentration camps - was an awful time for her and many many others. She had so much courage and I really do admire her. Thank you for your posts and I look forward to reading about more important people!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Even the little bit you shared about your story is amazing. Thank you for sharing!
DeleteThis is awesome! She has been a hero to me as well! I read the book so many years ago. This particular excerpt stirs my heart! Thank you for writing it. You got me thinking about who inspires me, and what that really means. Who makes me want to be a better person? Thought-provoking. No answer yet. I put my blog url here because the one connected to sharybary is an old wordpress account. Would love for you to visit if you have time.
ReplyDeleteSharon http://idaretobehappy.com/2014/10/04/welcome-to-31-days-of-dare-to-pray/
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! I will have to check out your 31 Days series as well!
DeleteIt doesn't matter how many times I read the story of her forgiving the guard, it still gives me chills. I love her story, and I can't wait to read more of your 31 day posts. I also talked about her in my 31 day series. http://www.simplyjesusministries.com/thoughts/31-days-of-books-that-inspire-the-hiding-place
ReplyDeleteYes, her story is incredible! That's so cool that we both mentioned the same person. Thank you for sharing your 31 Days post!
DeleteWhat I LOVE about Corrie Ten Boom is how she honestly owns up to all her own faults. Her book isn't about her and her incredible qualities. She only speaks of her sister's overwhelming love and grace for others, and her own faults. She strove to be selfless, but wasn't afraid to admit when she wasn't. I read this book for the first time this year (or rather, consumed it) and she's definitely one of my heroes.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from 31 Days: http://faithmustardseed.com
Thank you so much for sharing both your thoughts about your 31 Days series!
DeleteI like Corrie Ten Boom. But I admire and am inspired by Anne Frank. I was in a play of her life; once during college and once during seminary. I always remember what she said: "Despite everything I still believe people are really good at heart!"
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your thoughts! Anne Frank is also an amazing person, and I am planning to share about her this month, too! Also, I think it's amazing you were able to be her in a play. I would love to do that!
DeleteI suppose, being a teacher at heart, that one of my heroes is Anne Sullivan, the woman who taught Helen Keller. Even though she was the victim of an illness that left her almost blind, and underwent several operations to try to fix it (which, being in the late 1800s, were still somewhat primitive), she still persevered in her own life and in the life of one of the most difficult students to teach: a girl both blind and deaf, whose only means of communication was through touch.
ReplyDeleteHer story encourages me so much as a teacher. If Anne could teach that difficult of a student, with as many problems as she herself had in her life, I can manage to teach a couple classes of ESL 2nd and 3rd graders, when they can both see and hear (although not usually understand) me. And I can see and hear them as well. Thinking about her life inspires me to persevere in working with my students day after day. Even when I've lost my voice from talking over them because we did a phonics cheer today. ;)
Everything I've read from and about her is insanely amazing! She is totally inspiring. Thanks for writing this and thanks for subscribing to my weekly email! Glad to get to "know" you.
ReplyDeleteCorrie ten Boom is also one of my favorite inspirational people. Others who have inspired me include Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, George Mueller, Jonathan Edwards, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Keith Green, and Rich Mullins. I'm sure there are many more but these names came to mind right now :). They were all fully and passionately devoted to God with no compromise.
ReplyDelete~Urailak (Fruit Bearer on Facebook) #write31days