A Review: In My Father's House: The Years Before the Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom and Carole C. Carlson

A Review:  In My Father's House: The Years Before the Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom and Carole C. Carlson

In My Father's House: The Years Before the Hiding Place is a captivating story with many mini Corrie stories, as I call them, just right for sharing with children.  Here are a few of Corrie's around-the-oval-table stories from various chapters you'll enjoy.

Around the Oval Table

Chapter six "Around the Oval Table" describes a piece of furniture at the Beje--where everything took place.  It was the place they gathered for meals, for talking, for games, and for entertaining family, friends or strangers. (P.66)

It was the place with the red and black tablecloth.  It was the place Father ten Boom prayed and read Scripture every day.  It was the place Father ten Boom encouraged each family member to share their experiences.

It was the place "The Blessing Box" was kept.  It was the place "The Bible Game" was played.  Yes, the oval table was the hub of the household.  Corrie summed it up this way, "The oval table in our dining room was the gathering place for hopes and dreams, the listening place for prayers and petitions, and the loving place for joy and laughter." (P.61)

Under the Oval Table

In chapter three "From Small Beginnings" we find little Corrie having a party with her doll Casperina beneath the oval table.  There, sitting unseen on a small stool with adults bustling round her, Corrie felt safe.  There she could keep secrets and no one could scold her.  There it was just Casperina and Corrie together.  (P.33)

On the Oval Table

Corrie wrote, "Many lonesome people found a place with us, where there was music, humor, interesting conversations, and always room for one more at the oval dinner table."  Now Mother ten Boom always told each new visitor how very welcome they were to their home.  Then Mother ten Boom opened her arms wide, and held up "The Blessing Box" telling each new guest because she was so grateful for their presence she would add a penny to their missionary blessing box. (p.38)

At the Oval Table

After clearing off the dishes from the oval table, the entire family would each take out their Bible to play "The Bible Game." Father and Betsie had a German Bible, Mother had the Dutch, Willem had the original in Greek or Hebrew, Nollie had the French, and Corrie had the English.  Father would begin by asking what John 3:16 was in English, and Corrie would answer from her English Bible and so on.  As a result of Betsie having had the German Bible, Corrie commented, God used seemingly insignificant ways to prepare them for the future.  For it was years later in a concentration camp setting that Betsie would use German verses to share the gospel. (pp. 67-68)

Beside the Oval Table

On Sundays the oval table was spread with a clean white cloth, Tante Toos' delicate china, and Tante Jans' ornate silverservice.  Then Tante Anna would ring a little bell.  All present would seat themselves beside the oval table.  Father then would first take out a Sunday-only napkin place it in his lap, bow his head to give thanks for the food, add a blessing for the Queen, and pray that very soon the Lord Jesus would come on the clouds of heaven." (P.63)    

By the Oval Table

Once, when money was scarce and Mother ten Boom was very ill, seventeen-year-old Corrie and Father ten Boom sat by the oval table--the table that had seen happy and sad times. Troubled Corrie asked Father, "What must we do?"  Father wisely replied, "Don't forget Corrie--underneath are the everlasting arms.  We won't fall." (pp. 81-82) (From Deuteronomy 32:27)

These are just a few of the Corrie's mini stories full of truth and full of gospel.  Surely this is a not-to-be-forgotten book that you can share parts with the littlest children or grandchildren.  If you haven't read it, now is the time for you to get a copy and share it with your family! 

P.S.   For more about what happened round the oval table during the war years be sure and read Corrie's entire story in: The Young Reader's Edition of The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with Elizabeth and John Sherrill.  

The Oval Table

The oval table heard

God's word read,

daily prayers said,

the family at a meal,

things they did feel,

words of the young,

n' words of the old,

all sorts of stories

in Father's household.

                            LEP

Readers:  This read-aloud book will be worked into my homeschool/Christian school "ABC: Deuteronomy for Me Lessons: Raising a Caleb Kid in a Disrupted World."  Kids will make mini Corrie books that they can use as you share Corrie's stories. Order In My Father's House which has been beautifully republished by Lighthouse Trails and is carried in the Lighthouse House Trails store here.    
https://www.lighthousetrails.com/biographies-of-holocaust-survivors/391-in-my-fathers-house.html?search_query=In+My+Father%27s+House&results=180