Corrie Ten Boom’s Christmas Memories Sýnishorn

Christmas before the War Years

“You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy." - Isaiah 9:3   

December always was a very busy month for Betsie and Corrie ten Boom. Together they worked like a real team and often had to speak at about ten different Christmas celebrations. Whenever they were invited and got the chance, they spoke at youth clubs, Sunday schools, hospitals, military groups and churches.

They always told the Christmas story from Luke 2 and a Christmas Story called “Father Martin” also known as the story of “Papa Panov”. The first celebration Corrie did Luke 2 and Betsie did the story of Father Martin and the next time they swapped and Betsie would speak about Luke 2 and Corrie would do Father Martin. Every attending child received an orange. Whenever possible a Christian booklet and a bookmark or a small poster with a Bible verse on it, decorated with beautiful flowers and birds was given. And of course, as a good old Dutch tradition, there was chocolate milk for every visitor.

December was also a very busy month for the watchmakers shop. And Corrie was often very tired after a full day of working. She once went to one of the  Christmas feasts, counting for herself: “This is number four, five more to go, and then we’re through Christmas!” She suddenly realized that this was a wrong attitude and prayed: “Lord, give me the miracle that I won’t get tired but enjoy every Christmas celebration, even if it is number ten. Because so many people walk in darkness and night and should receive gladness and light and experience the great joy of You coming to this world to save us. So will You please give us your joy for every celebration so that we can pass this joy on to others?”

God in His sufficiency answered that prayer, and all those years Betsie and Corrie shared with great joy the miracle that God became man to reconcile a lost people to Himself by dying on the cross for their sins.

Question

Do you recognize that the hustle and bustle of organizing your Christmas can take away the real joy?

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, You are the One that will increase our joy as it is written in Isaiah 9:3. We need that joy and we want to celebrate Your coming to the earth and not get so busy that we kind of just want to get through the Christmas celebrations instead of rejoicing in Who You are and why You came.