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During the Second World War, Corrie ten Boom’s
family owned a watchmaking business in the
Netherlands, and they actively worked to protect
Jewish families. Eventually, the entire ten Boom
family was sent to a concentration camp, where
Corrie’s father died 10 days later.
Her sister Betsie also died in the camp.
While Betsie and Corrie were in the camp together, Betsie’s faith helped to strengthen Corrie’s.
That faith led Corrie to forgive even the ruthless
men who served as guards during her
concentration camp days. While hate and the
desire for revenge continued to destroy many lives long after the concentration camps were gone,
Corrie knew the truth:
Hate hurts the hater more than the hated,
no matter how justified it may seem.
Like Corrie, we each have the opportunity to love
our enemy and choose forgiveness.
Forgiveness doesn’t excuse the offense but
when we forgive we show Christ to the world.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, even as God in Christ forgave you”
(Eph. 4:32).
God will help you let go of every angry grudge as
you watch the Spirit build into you a place
where others see the Savior. -Randy Kilgore |