Encouragement From The Flock

"Are You Struggling With Fleas?"

Have you ever read or heard "to be grateful for all things"?  Recently I finished the book, "The Hiding Place" by Corrie TenBoom.  Corrie relates an event at one of the concentration camps that she and her sister Betsie endured.  In these prisons they were not allowed to study their bible.  Matter-a-fact, they hid their Bibles or they would be taken away.  In secrecy, they would hold Bible studies with other women in the building and keep watch for the guards who routinely would patrol through.

Upon arriving at another concentration camp, 140,000 women were put in a building that was designed to hold 4,000.  As they were walking into this building they noticed fleas everywhere.  Corrie stated she could not live in a place filled with fleas; her sister Betsie exclaimed, "Let's start telling God what we're thankful for."  As Betsie started her list, she also thanked God for the fleas.  Corrie struggled with that, not seeing how He (God) could use fleas and how she should be thankful, however, she too thanked God for the fleas.

As time passed, they found that the guards never entered this building like in camps past.  So the women consistently held Bible Studies.  One day when Corrie entered the building she found Betsie laughing.  She asked, "What's so funny?"  Betsie responded, "I know why the guards never patrol our building, it is because of the fleas."  God had allowed the fleas to infest the building so Bible studies could be held.

As I read this account of being grateful in all circumstances, I shard this story with my daughter.  Not long after this account I had a difficult situation come into my life.  One of these truly humbling, seeking after God's direction deals.  I had been working and praying through this issue and recalling the part of being thankful in everything.  (Phil. 4:6)

One morning my daughter and I were getting ready and started to list the things we were grateful for.  She thanked God for the situation I was struggling with.  I expressed that I was having trouble being thankful for that issue.  Looking at me with such confidence and serenity she said, "Mom, it's just like fleas."

Are you struggling with some fleas?

Phil 4:6  Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know  to God."

Tammy Zantow