Life Before the Betrayal
Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian watchmaker, grew up in Haarlem, Netherlands, where her family lived above their modest watch shop. During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II, the ten Boom family risked their lives to hide Jewish people from persecution. However, on February 28, 1944, a betrayal led to their arrest, and Corrie, along with her sister Betsie, was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany.
The conditions were brutal, and Corrie witnessed unimaginable cruelty. Betsie's unwavering faith, even towards their captors, left a deep imprint on Corrie. Betsie envisioned a place of healing after the war, a dream that Corrie would one day fulfill. Though Betsie passed away in the camp, Corrie was released on December 28, 1944, due to a clerical error.
Confronting Her Former Enemy
In 1947, Corrie traveled to Germany to share a message of forgiveness. After a talk in Munich, a former Ravensbrück guard approached her. "A fine message, Fraulein!" he began, expressing his joy that God had forgiven him since becoming a Christian. He then asked Corrie directly for her forgiveness. Flooded with memories of her sister's suffering and the horrors she endured, Corrie was torn. "I stood there—I whose sins had again and again been forgiven—and could not forgive," she later recalled.
Forgiveness Through God's Power
Yet, Corrie understood that God's forgiveness required her to forgive those who had wronged her. Realizing that forgiveness is a decision rather than a feeling, she prayed silently, "Jesus, help me! I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling." She extended her hand to the former guard, and as they touched, she felt a divine warmth flood her being. "I forgive you, brother!" she cried, feeling God's love more intensely than ever before, recognizing that it was through the Holy Spirit's power.
A Legacy of Forgiveness
Corrie's life became a testament to forgiveness and reconciliation, as she continued to share her story around the world. She set up a rehabilitation center in the Netherlands and became known as a "tramp for the Lord," emphasizing the need for daily renewal of God's grace. Corrie ten Boom's legacy stands as a powerful example of the transformative power of forgiveness rooted in faith.
