THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Years ago when Christians were still very much restricted and oppressed in Russia, Corrie ten Boom and a friend sneaked in to visit an old woman. This woman lived with her husband in a one-room apartment. Corrie found her lying on a small sofa, propped up by a number of pillows. Her body was severely disfigured and twisted from an advanced stage of multiple sclerosis. It was her husband who cared for her daily needs.THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Years ago when Christians were still very much restricted and oppressed in Russia, Corrie ten Boom and a friend sneaked in to visit an old woman. This woman lived with her husband in a one-room apartment. Corrie found her lying on a small sofa, propped up by a number of pillows. Her body was severely disfigured and twisted from an advanced stage of multiple sclerosis. It was her husband who cared for her daily needs.

Next to her couch was a typewriter. Every morning her husband would prop her into a sitting position so she could type . . . with one finger—the only finger she had control of. All day and all night she would do her work of translating Christian books into Russian, Latvian, and the language of her people—portions of the Bible, books by Billy Graham, Watchman Nee, and Corrie ten Boom, who came to personally thank her.

Her husband told Corrie that not only did she translate these books, she also prayed for these men and women of God every day while she typed. When Corrie ten Boom heard this and saw her lying on the sofa, she silently prayed, “Oh, Lord, why don’t You heal her?” As if he could hear Corrie’s prayer, her husband answered, “God has a purpose in her sickness. Every other Christian in the city is watched by the secret police. But because she has been sick so long, no one ever looks on her. They leave us alone . . . . “

One day, after Corrie returned to Holland, she received a letter from this woman’s husband. In the early morning hours last week, his wife had gone home to be with the Lord. The night before she had worked until midnight, “typing with that one finger to the glory of God.” Oh, the mystery of healing, the mystery of living . . . for God.

Pastor Paul

Next to her couch was a typewriter. Every morning her husband would prop her into a sitting position so she could type . . . with one finger—the only finger she had control of. All day and all night she would do her work of translating Christian books into Russian, Latvian, and the language of her people—portions of the Bible, books by Billy Graham, Watchman Nee, and Corrie ten Boom, who came to personally thank her.

Her husband told Corrie that not only did she translate these books, she also prayed for these men and women of God every day while she typed. When Corrie ten Boom heard this and saw her lying on the sofa, she silently prayed, “Oh, Lord, why don’t You heal her?” As if he could hear Corrie’s prayer, her husband answered, “God has a purpose in her sickness. Every other Christian in the city is watched by the secret police. But because she has been sick so long, no one ever looks on her. They leave us alone . . . . “

One day, after Corrie returned to Holland, she received a letter from this woman’s husband. In the early morning hours last week, his wife had gone home to be with the Lord. The night before she had worked until midnight, “typing with that one finger to the glory of God.” Oh, the mystery of healing, the mystery of living . . . for God.

Pastor Paul