The Hiding Place

Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

4. The Watch Shop

p 49-51 Describes her Mother's invalid state after a cerebral hemorrage, but her continued expressions of love to the community. On page 51 is a beautiful description of her presence at her middle daughter's wedding and the fact that she could sing her favorite hymn even though she could not speak. The eloquence of the description of love on these pages moved me to tears.

p49 Corrie's Mother could not speak more than single words, so they played a word game with her until she signaled that they had gotten her meaning. When she saw a person she knew on the street, they finally understood her meaning and she recorded: " 'Mama, I'll bet it's someone's birthday!' Then I would call out names until I heard her delighted 'Yes!' Then I would write out a little note saying that Mama had seen the person and wished her a happy birthday. At the close I always put the pen in her stiffened fingers so she could sign it. An angular scrawl was all that was left of her beautiful curling signature, but it was soon known and loved all over Haarlem." This moved me deeply as a continuing effort of love in time of disability. Partly this was because of my high regard for Carol Richardson who consistently sent notes and prayed for people in our church even though severely crippled by rheumatoid arthritis.

p50-51 Describing the day of Nollie's wedding: "Nollie was radiant, the following day, in her long white dress. But it was Mama I could not take my eyes off. Dressed in black as always, she was nevertheless suddenly young and girlish, eyes sparkling with joy at this greatest Occasion the ten Booms had ever held. Betsie and I took her into the church early and I was sure that most of the van Woerden family and friends never dreamed that the gracious and smiling lady in the first pew could neither walk alone nor speak. "

"But the great miracle of the day came later. To close the service we had chosen Mama's favorite hymn, 'Fairest Lord Jesus'. And now as I stood singing it I heard, behind me in the pew, Mama's voice singing too. Word after word, verse after verse, she joined in. Mama who could not speak four words, singing the beautiful lines without a stammer. Her voice which had been so high and clear was hoarse and cracked, but to me it was the voice of an angel."

"At first we hoped it was the beginning of Mama's recovery. But the words she had sung she was not able to say, nor did she ever sing again. It had been an isolate moment, a gift to us from God, His own very special wedding present. Four weeks later, asleep with a smile on her lips, Mama slipped away from us forever."

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