Corrie ten Boom, Her Story (continued)
13. Passing the Baton
YOU KNOW THAT Iama Tramp for the Lord. I traveled all over the world to tell others about the Lord Jesus. Iam already old and I do not like to go alone. That is why I always have a younger woman with me. At one time, the Lord gave me Connie to accompany me. For more than seven years, we went together over a large part of the world. But she married, and then the Lord gave me another companion.
There came a time when Connie became very ill, and she knew that she had to die.
Her husband came home one evening and saw that she was crying. He put his arm around her and asked, "Connie, why do you cry?"
She answered, "I traveled much with Tante Corrie and after that I traveled much with you. But now J must go on a journey all alone and you and Tante Corrie will not be with me...."
"Oh, but listen, Connie," said her husband. "I will keep your hand in mine, and in the moment when you really die, I will give your hand into the hand of Jesus. He will keep you through the valley of the shadow of death and bring you to the beautiful heaven where He has prepared a house for you!"
Connie did not cry anymore. What her husband had said was so true! And it all happened that way when Connie went home.
Oh, that loving hand of God! The men who wrote the Psalms knew much when they wrote what the Holy Spirit told them: JESUS IS VICTOR 357
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Psalms 139:9, 10... thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit.
Psalms 31:4, 5
Connie had a husband who was with her until the last moment of her life. Many, many people have no husband who is able and has the opportunity to stay with them when they are dying, but the great joy is that everyone can know there is a Saviour in Jesus Christ. "What a Friend we have in Jesus!" His hand keeps us, not only when we go through the valley of the shadow of death but also before that. When we pray, "Take my hand, Lord, and hold me tight," the Lord does it. He has every opportunity and every possibility—and how much love He has for us! He is never too busy with others. He takes time to be with us. He himself said: Lo, Iam with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Matthew 28:20
My father used to say to us, when we were children and had to go away from home for a while, "Children, don't forget, when Jesus takes your hand, then He holds you tight. And when Jesus keeps you tight, He guides you through life. And when Jesus guides you through life, one day He brings you safely home."