Corrie ten Boom, Her Story (continued)
... Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:14
35. Little Witness for Christ
TANTE JANS LOST her husband before she was forty years old. He had been a well-known minister in Rotterdam and she had worked faithfully beside him in the church. They had no children and after he died it was clear that her place was to be in our house in Haarlem. She was a poet, author, and organizer—especially was she an organizer! Soon after she moved into the Beje she started a club for girls where she led the meetings and began publishing a small monthly paper for them.
It was long before World War I started, but a detachment of Dutch soldiers was stationed in Haarlem. Seeing many soldiers in the streets, Tante Jans decided to open a club for them too. She approached some wealthy people and within a short time had enough money te build a military home. Twice a week Tante Jans went to the house to lead in a Bible study. _ Tante Jans also invited the soldiers to come to our house. Since they were lonely and did not like the street life, many of them accepted. Almost every evening we had soldiers in our home.
One sergeant was a great musician and Tante Jans asked him to teach me and my sister Nollie to play the harmonium—an old pump organ. It wasn't long before I was joining Tante Jans at the military home to accompany the singing.
One night, in my eleventh year, a large group of soldiers had gathered for the Bible study. Before I played, Tante Jans made me sing. The song I sang was about the lost sheep which was found by the shepherd. I sang it slowly and dramatically, climaxing it with the last line: .
TRAMP FOR THE LORD Sil
And the sheep that went astray was me.
As I finished singing a big, blond Dutch officer reached out and pulled me to him. Picking me up and sitting me on his knee, he laughed and said, "Tell me, young lady, how did you go astray?"
All the other soldiers laughed, and I was red with embarrassment. It did seem odd that such a little girl would describe herself as a lost sheep.
I had to confess that the line just belonged to the song and that I had never, never been a lost sheep. Then I told him that as a little girl, just five years of age, I had given my heart to Jesus Christ and could never remember not having belonged to Him.
The officer grew very serious and his eyes filled with tears. "Ah, that is the way it should be, little Sweet-Face," he said solemnly. "How much better to come to Jesus as a little child, than to have to stumble, as I have, always seeking the shepherd."
Then he closed his eyes and said softly, "But tonight I think I shall stop seeking, and let Him find me instead."
That night there was deep joy in the Bible meeting. The Lord had used me to lead a man to Christ. It was the first time in my life, and it had taken place not because of what I said, but because of the Holy Spirit who was in me. It was a secret I have remembered all the years of my life as I have traveled the world—a tramp for the Lord.
Jesus
1s Victor gl ee Sat
Contents
Part One He Cares, He Comforts
Preface B27 Dear Friend 329 "Jesus Heard You...." 331 1 That Wee Little Baby Sie) 2 The Little Lamb 335 3 A Happy Visit 336 4 Pain 338 5 Can You Forgive? 340 6 The Foolishness of God 343
7a Alice 345 8 Tommy 346 9 Toontje 347 10 Mother 349 ity Pictje Siw! 12 Debbie 325 13 Passing the Baton 356 14 Used by God 358 15 Nobody Is Too Bad 360 16 Niwanda 362 17 His Sheep 364 18 Little Angel 366 19 The Lost Sheep 367 20 Worry 368 21 Our Times Are in God's Hands 370 22 When I Saw Death S72 23 Are You Afraid to Die? 374 "Are You Going Home?" 376 You Have His Word 377