A few summers ago, my husband and I had to make good on a promise we had made... you know, the puppy promise. The one the kiddos don't forget and keep reminding you of a bazillion times (is that a real word or a real number?) until you finally fulfill it and end up with more four-legged, furry fun than you could have imagined or bargained for.
Meet Tucker ~ our first, and eldest adopted dog (yes, the kids bambuzzled me into getting another puppy, but that is another story for yet another day). His former owner, a college student, had completed her degree and was heading off to graduate school in the Netherlands. Since he wasn't bilingual and needed more time than she would have to give, she decided to search for a loving family and home. That's where we came in. He definitely had the "cuteness factor" working for him in his mug shot hanging on the community bulletin board at the local health food store. As you can imagine he was even harder to resist when he was licking each and every inch of my begging and pleading children. What could I say? What could I do? So, of course, I agreed to bring him home. But I never invited the fleas!
We tried several remedies. Our first attempt was an all-natural flea & tick spray made with all kinds of yummy smelling essential oils. Loved the aroma. Apparently, so did the fleas! So, we tried several over-the-counter treatments. The fleas were not impressed and neither was I. Then we got serious about this battle we were waging and consulted the vet. Throughout the process, the fleas decided it would not break protocol if they ventured beyond the family canine. I had flea bites covering my feet, ankles, and legs. Did I mention that my body goes into overdrive when an insect of any kind bites me? Needless to say, I was not happy! Love the dog, but the fleas... not so much. I grumbled, I scratched, I complained, I whined. I was definitely not giving thanks in this situation.
During the flea wars, I was reading aloud to our kiddos about Corrie ten Boom from the "Heroes of the Faith" series. We read how Corrie and her family were filled with compassion and love for the persecuted Jews during World War II. By building a secret room, a hiding place, they were able to rescue many Jews. But they did so at the risk of their own lives. While they were able to get many Jews to safety, they were eventually caught and arrested. They were imprisoned and eventually were taken to Ravensbruck, a notorious concentration camp in Germany. As we continued to read, I was so touched by the simple, sweet faith of Corrie and her frail sister, Betsie. Their bed was a hard wooden platform sprinkled with straw. They shared the platform with seven other women... and fleas. Lots of them. Corrie slapped at the fleas as they bit her repeatedly. She must have scowled too, because her sister reminded her of Scripture, "be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Corrie remarked how beautiful the verse was. Then her sister repeated, "give thanks in all circumstances." Corrie asked if she was supposed to be grateful for the fleas. Betsie answered her with a gentle yes. Corrie was convicted. God wanted her to have a thankful heart despite their desperate situation. Corrie went to sleep thanking God for the fleas. Corrie and Betsie refused to dwell on their dire circumstances. After long days of grueling work and little food, the sisters would read aloud from their Bible (which had been smuggled in) every night in Barracks #28. Gradually, women began to gather around to hear more. They shared the gospel freely with hundreds of women. Of course, if they were caught conducting these "meetings" they would be severely punished. Strangely, the guards rarely came into their building. They later overheard guards remarking that they would not go into this barrack due to the flea infestation! Corrie praised the Lord for the fleas, this time with all her heart!
I was completely humbled by this story. And convicted. My problem is not the fleas, or any other trial, small or big, that comes into my life. The issue is my heart. And ungratefulness. And doubt. I can totally relate to the man in Scripture that cried, "I believe, help me with my unbelief!" I am so encouraged and edified by the shared lives and testimonies of saints, such as Corrie ten Boom and her sister, Betsie. I am thankful for the example of Betsie's simple, sweet, child-like faith. I am grateful that Corrie was so transparent and willingly shared her faith struggles. I am inspired by her courage and her willingness to be broken for the Lord. I love that she allowed the Lord to perfect her faith. I love that she gave God the glory. Corrie and Betsie were women with a heart for God... in all circumstances. That is the kind of heart I want to have.
Meet Tucker ~ our first, and eldest adopted dog (yes, the kids bambuzzled me into getting another puppy, but that is another story for yet another day). His former owner, a college student, had completed her degree and was heading off to graduate school in the Netherlands. Since he wasn't bilingual and needed more time than she would have to give, she decided to search for a loving family and home. That's where we came in. He definitely had the "cuteness factor" working for him in his mug shot hanging on the community bulletin board at the local health food store. As you can imagine he was even harder to resist when he was licking each and every inch of my begging and pleading children. What could I say? What could I do? So, of course, I agreed to bring him home. But I never invited the fleas!
We tried several remedies. Our first attempt was an all-natural flea & tick spray made with all kinds of yummy smelling essential oils. Loved the aroma. Apparently, so did the fleas! So, we tried several over-the-counter treatments. The fleas were not impressed and neither was I. Then we got serious about this battle we were waging and consulted the vet. Throughout the process, the fleas decided it would not break protocol if they ventured beyond the family canine. I had flea bites covering my feet, ankles, and legs. Did I mention that my body goes into overdrive when an insect of any kind bites me? Needless to say, I was not happy! Love the dog, but the fleas... not so much. I grumbled, I scratched, I complained, I whined. I was definitely not giving thanks in this situation.
During the flea wars, I was reading aloud to our kiddos about Corrie ten Boom from the "Heroes of the Faith" series. We read how Corrie and her family were filled with compassion and love for the persecuted Jews during World War II. By building a secret room, a hiding place, they were able to rescue many Jews. But they did so at the risk of their own lives. While they were able to get many Jews to safety, they were eventually caught and arrested. They were imprisoned and eventually were taken to Ravensbruck, a notorious concentration camp in Germany. As we continued to read, I was so touched by the simple, sweet faith of Corrie and her frail sister, Betsie. Their bed was a hard wooden platform sprinkled with straw. They shared the platform with seven other women... and fleas. Lots of them. Corrie slapped at the fleas as they bit her repeatedly. She must have scowled too, because her sister reminded her of Scripture, "be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Corrie remarked how beautiful the verse was. Then her sister repeated, "give thanks in all circumstances." Corrie asked if she was supposed to be grateful for the fleas. Betsie answered her with a gentle yes. Corrie was convicted. God wanted her to have a thankful heart despite their desperate situation. Corrie went to sleep thanking God for the fleas. Corrie and Betsie refused to dwell on their dire circumstances. After long days of grueling work and little food, the sisters would read aloud from their Bible (which had been smuggled in) every night in Barracks #28. Gradually, women began to gather around to hear more. They shared the gospel freely with hundreds of women. Of course, if they were caught conducting these "meetings" they would be severely punished. Strangely, the guards rarely came into their building. They later overheard guards remarking that they would not go into this barrack due to the flea infestation! Corrie praised the Lord for the fleas, this time with all her heart!
I was completely humbled by this story. And convicted. My problem is not the fleas, or any other trial, small or big, that comes into my life. The issue is my heart. And ungratefulness. And doubt. I can totally relate to the man in Scripture that cried, "I believe, help me with my unbelief!" I am so encouraged and edified by the shared lives and testimonies of saints, such as Corrie ten Boom and her sister, Betsie. I am thankful for the example of Betsie's simple, sweet, child-like faith. I am grateful that Corrie was so transparent and willingly shared her faith struggles. I am inspired by her courage and her willingness to be broken for the Lord. I love that she allowed the Lord to perfect her faith. I love that she gave God the glory. Corrie and Betsie were women with a heart for God... in all circumstances. That is the kind of heart I want to have.
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