Tags

,

Two weeks ago I had a day off work, and had little planned for the day. I knew I wanted to get a bike ride in on my trainer, but that was the only “big thing” on the schedule. I decided to pick up the book The Hiding Place and read a few chapters as my breakfast digested (i made this for breakfast– it was delicious!) before I got onto the trainer. Well, as it happened, it ended up hitting 4 pm and I was just finishing the book. I’ve read it before (although the last time was probably 13+ years ago), but I just couldn’t put it down.

The book is the story of Corrie ten Boom and her family who were living in Amsterdam at the start of World War II. A Christian family, they believed that all people were loved and valuable. As the Nazis took over Holland and began the persecution of the Jews, Corrie ten Boom became a key player in the underground movement to help protect the Jewish people.

She built a secret hiding room in her house, and took in many, many Jews and allowed them to hide in her house. She, along with several family members, ended up being arrested, sent to a prison, and then she and her sister were sent to Ravensbruck, a large concentration camp in Germany.

The faith she held onto and the love and forgiveness she held onto transformed the women in her barracks, and brought joy to a truly horrific place. The rest of the story is pretty cool, but I don’t want to give anything away.

Corrie ten Boom is a truly amazing person, and I enjoyed learning more about her through a report I did on her growing up (she is one of the resiliency role models for me). The Hiding Place is a really awesome book, and I encourage you strongly to pick it up and give it a read. My mom first read it to me in 2nd or 3rd grade, and I’ve loved it ever since. You can go and visit the ten Boom’s house in Amsterdam as well, and see the actual hiding place in person. I love books that are a mix of inspiration, a true story, and something that grips my heart, and this book is certainly that!

Now it’s your turn to share! Have you read The Hiding Place or heard of Corrie ten Boom ever?