The following is from The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. This is an outstanding book about two sisters, who were true Christians, and how they really learned to rely on their Heavenly Father. It was their Bible and doing their best to live the teachings contained in it that helped them through some of the worst of human conditions.
Corrie and her sister were prisoners in Ravensbruck, a concentration camp during WWII, with wrenched conditions. They had already survived so much, but the conditions of the final barracks were well beyond what they thought they could bear -- including a thick infestation of fleas in the straw they were to sleep on. Corrie turned to her sister and cried, "Betsie, how can we live in such a place!" Immediately Betsie began to pray and soon the answer came to her. They had read it in the Bible just that morning "Give thanks in all circumstances." Betsie was sure this was the answer. Corrie recounted the scene as follows:
"Betsie Said, "We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about his new barracks"
I stared at her, then around me at the dark, foul aired room. "Such as?" I said.
"Such as being assigned her together."
I bit my lip, "Oh Yes, Lord Jesus!"
"Such as what you're holding in your hands."
I looked down at the Bible. "Yes! Thank You, dear Lord, that there was no inspection when we entered here! Thank You for all the women here in this room who will meet You in these pages."
"Yes," said Betsie. "Thank You for the very crowding here. Since we're packed so close, that many more will hear. She looked at me expectantly, "Corrie!" she prodded.
"Oh, all right. Thank You for the jammed, crammed, stuffed, packed suffocating crowds."
"Thank you," Betsie went on serenely, "for the fleas and for--"
The FLEAS!! This was too much. Betsie, there's no way even God can make me grateful for a flea."
"'Give thanks in All circumstances,'" she quoted. "It doesn't say in pleasant circumstances. Fleas are part of this place where God has put us."
And so we stood between piers to bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.
Because they began from that moment on the to thank instead complain, they had positive attitudes and became a very positive influence on the others in their barracks. As their world grew blacker with evil outside the barracks, their world inside (even with the fleas) became brighter until it became as a literal Heaven on earth despite the conditions. What made the difference? They read the Bible, no just to themselves, but to those around them; soon all gathered at the end of everyday to hear the word of God. Even more important they all tried to apply the teachings as they looked for light in a black world. Many came unto Christ as a result. The women in the barracks quit being rude and mean to each other and replaced it with love and kindness.
Normally these barracks had surprise inspections where their precious Bible that brought so much light and strength would normally have been seized. Miraculously, they never had such inspections. Much later they found out it was because their barracks were so flea infested that the guards dared not enter. The fleas allowed them to have God's Word for their strength and their hope. Upon learning this, Corrie very humbly knelt and truly thanked God for the fleas!
We should also give thanks in all circumstances! As with Corrie's, we may learn that the very "fleas" that we saw as only a plague to our lives are the very things that allow God to bless us with the things we need most.
Gratitude is more than just being grateful for the good things in life. It is an attitude of happiness and making the best of all circumstances. Life will always be a series of adventures in applying gospel principles, especially that of loving and forgiving all.
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
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