LITTLE THINGS

Charge them that are rich in this world,

that they be not highminded,

nor trust in uncertain riches,

but in the living God, who

giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

I Timothy 6:17

For several years, Corrie ten Boom has been a heroine of mine.  I did a cursory reading of the book "The Hiding Place" several years ago and was intersted enough to watch the movie that was made for TV, adapted from the book.  I was shocked that this movie was even aired on one of the major television networks because of the strong Christian content in it.  I have in recent days been revisiting that book, doing a more in depth reading of it.  The book deals with the treacherous times during the Nazi takeover of Europe, the persecution of the Jews and of those who made every effort to protect them.  Such was the case with the ten Boom family who hid Jews in their home during those perilous days.

Eventually, the ten Boom family was arrested and for a time, placed in prison before being taken to an extermination camp.  Mr. ten Boom only lived a couple of weeks as he was already 100 years old at the time of being arrested and was in failing health.  Corrie and her sister Betsie were put in prison.  Corrie was in solitary confinement most of the time as she was considered the ring leader of a part of the underground movement in her town.

Corrie had not had time to grab the small suitcase she had prepared with items she thought she might need if arrested and had only the clothes she wore when taken.  The ten Boom family was not rich but their clock and watch business had done well.  Corrie had never had to go wanting for the basic necessities of life.  Now she had poor surroundings, very bad food and hours in solitary confinement with none of the music, books and fellowship she had known in her home.  Corrie was reduced to nothingness except for the fact that she had Jesus.  Despite the worst of circumstances, she had her Savior and she knew He would see to her every need. 

One of the main things Corrie desired with all her heart was a Bible and she saw no hope of ever getting one.  Under the Nazi's, it was very hard to get a Bible, especially the Old Testament.  They wanted no teaching or learning about the Jewish people done at all.

One day when taken to see a doctor,  (Corrie had been very ill even at the time of her arrest), she met a sympathetic nurse.  The nurse had to be very careful in talking to Corrie, but asked Corrie about any need she might have.  Remember now that Corrie was down to nothing and think of all the things she could have asked for, but she told the nurse she really wanted a Bible.  At the end of the day of processing Corrie medically, as she was about to leave, the nurse handed her a small package, too small to be a Bible.  It slipped easily into her coat pocket.  Corrie determined to be grateful for whatever was in the package.  Upon returning to her cell, she opened the package and found two bars of soap and a package of safety pins both of which were treasures in prison.  Tucked under the soap, however, were four very small booklets...Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  It wasn't the whole Bible but Corrie rejoiced in having those portions of God's Word.  (At a later time, she would receive a small Bible in a care package from a relative that she kept in a small bag with a long string worn around her neck.)

As I have thought of Corrie, I have been giving thought about some little things in my own life that I rarely consider on a day by day basis.  I think of how much I take for granted and yes, think about my expectations when it comes to the things of life.  Brian and I live in a nice duplex right now anticipating the building of our new house.  Corrie lived in a cold, drafty barracks.  I slept in a nice bed last night while Corrie in prison had a mattress filled with spoiled and rottten grass or hay to sleep on.  I can go get a drink of water whenever I want.  The water Corrie was forced to drink, you and I wouldn't wash clothes in.  I have food in a refrigerator while most of the time Corrie ate hard black bread, watery turnip soup with a potato thrown in it.  I have needles in a sewing kid, safety pins in a drawer, soap in a soap dish and hand lotion enough to bathe in if I wanted to and she had none of these.  I've thought about the times I've moaned over a hangnail.  If I pop a button on a dress, I'm aggravated, but I have needle and thread to fix it.  Do I appreciate color in my life.  It's all around me but Corrie had mostly varying shades of gray in her life.

Do I have an appreciation of life itself or do I take every breath for granted.  While in solitary, Corrie had little human contact, so her good friend in her cell was a little ant that came up through a crack in the floor for any crumb she might have to leave for it.  You and I can phone a friend, mingle with people at church or even stand in a check out line in a grocery store with people ahead of and behind us.  Those two sisters would have given anything to attend a church service.  Many Christians today debate on Sunday morning if they are even going to go to church (and don't ever ask them to show up on Sunday night).  Look around at the little things in your life that would be huge losses if you didn't have them, or might be luxuries in the lives of others right now who live in great need.

By Him therefore let us offer the

sacrifice of praise to God continually,

that is, the fruit of our lips,

giving thanks to His name.

Hebrews 13:15

Most of all, in reviewing my blessings, a really big thing in my life is that I have my own copy of the Bible.  In fact, I have several Bibles on my bookshelf that I have used regularly through the years or have for reference purposes.  I can read it whenever and anyplace I want, and can enjoy the study of it privately in my home or with freedom in my church.  I've never had to hide it for fear of being arrested or my Bible being destroyed by ungodly authorities.  May God have mercy should I go a single day, deliberately not reading it unless I am too ill to do so.  Let's always remember that through the years there have been people who have given their lives that this Bible we own might be preservbed for us to read and enjoy.

O how love I thy law!

It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:97

In the whole process, Corrie lost her sister who died in a poor excuse for a hospital.  Corrie was on a list for extermination mostly because of her age, but through a secretarial "error" was put on a different list to be released from captivity.  She lost her sister, father and other members of her family, but she rejoiced in that she had Jesus.  She spent the rest of her life writing and traveling the world telling others about Jesus and His love for each person..

Dear Heavenly Father,

I am so thankful for all Your goodness in my life, but I know I tend to look at the petty things of life.  I am so remiss in regularly taking inventory of all the blessings You have given me and ask Your forgiveness for being so ungrateful.  Thank you for Your Word and may I never take for granted having my own copy of it.  Help me to take notice of little things all around me that I know I owuld miss if they weren't there.  Grant me an attitude of gratitude.  Thank You for Your constant love and forgiveness.  I love You and am grateful You are my Father who takes such good care of me.    Amen.