What do Thanksgiving and fleas have in common?
More than you think. Actually, you may never look at a flea the same again.
Hopefully, you'll never view Thanksgiving the same.
It's fairly easy for most of us, to rattle off a list of thank-yous during the month of November. I hear the thankful lists from children at school, and adults participating in a Thankfulness countdown on facebook,and I notice a familiar theme: "Thankful for family, health, my home, my freedom..." All wonderful gifts, indeed.
I join them in thanking God for these gifts I have been given. I have a need to be thankful for more than the obvious gifts, though.
Some days, I must search harder for the "gifts" in my day- to find a reason to give thanks for things that on the surface anyway, I find nothing good in: mundane tasks I so often take for granted. Annoying or frustrating circumstances disrupting an otherwise good day. Actually, there are things I don't feel very grateful for;things that give me reason to gripe, moan, groan and complain : Doing dishes, laundry, grocery shopping, etc. And then there's that ever-growing list of physical attributes that are changing before my my eyes that leave me less than grateful including newly appearing wrinkles, stubborn lumps and bumps on my body that refuse to leave and making clothes fit differently than they ever have before. And then I think of difficult people. You know the ones--the people that seem to take pride in making your day less than desirable--the incompetent employee who doesn't do their job that causes stress on the part of those needing proper service. The rude lady in line at the grocery store that cuts in line, or takes the last parking place you had been waiting for...or those that are never happy unless they can spread some of their misery to innocent bystanders.
And then I think of many of my friends and relatives facing horrible situations: the death of a child, a loved one with cancer, financial ruin due to job losses, couples divorcing after many years of marriage when their spouse announces, "I never really loved you." Are these same people expected to be grateful around the same Thanksgiving table as the rest of us? That seems impossible, even inconsiderate to even ask that of those struggling just to keep their head above water.
As my mind wrestles with these thoughts, I am reminded of a story of some fleas, and how this nuisance became an unexpected object of thanksgiving for some ladies facing horrible circumstances. Yes, I said FLEAS, of all things.
Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsy, were prisoners in a concentration camp in Germany back in the 40s.They were not Jewish, however, they were arrested for hiding Jews in their home to save them from certain death when the Nazis invaded their home during the war.
The living conditions were horrible;filthy, cramped rooms. No toilets, only monthly showers, little food, too much labor and unspeakable torture and many of them were witnessing and/or experiencing this daily, the annihilation of nearly their entire Jewish race including many friends and family members.
To make matters worse, when the ladies were moved to a new section of the prison in Ravinsbruck, the overcrowded cell happened to be infested with fleas. Corrie's reaction was understandable. "Fleas? Really, God? On top of everything else we are asked to deal with, we now must live in a flea-infested,overly-crowded room?" Her sister Betsy reminded her of the scripture in Thessalonians, "In ALL things give thanks..." Corrie argued with her vowing that she could never be thankful for such a thing. Fleas were only adding to their miserable, daily existence.
Corrie and Betsy were Christians and felt the only thing keeping any sense of peace and hope in them, was the wisdom, hope and peace they found in the scriptures. Scriptures they had read daily for many years in their home when life was good. They knew the power behind the words inspired by God many years ago had been at times, the only thing that had gotten them through rough times in the past. Corrie had smuggled a Bible into the concentration camp, and was reading it aloud to the ladies cramped inside their filthy cell, being careful to hide their bible studies from the unforgiving guards who would punish them unmercifully if they were caught participating in this illegal activity.
As the ladies read about giving thanks in ALL things, Betsy reminded Corrie that even the overcrowded room was a blessing as it allowed many women to hear the comforting words of the scriptures, when no other comfort could be found. She thanked God for the opportunity and for the situation of overcrowding which made this possible. But the fleas? Corrie remained adamant that there was no perceivable reason a flea would be the worthy object of thanks.
After awhile, the ladies noticed that the frequent cell visits from the guards (that were always unwelcomed and feared) were becoming much less frequent. This gave them more time for Bible study and prayer- and encouragement--and less of a chance for their illegal activity to be discovered and stopped, as punishments would have surely been brutal...even fatal.
Soon, Corrie realized the reason for the guards absence...it was because of the fleas. The guards would not enter their room because of them. The fleas, the very object of Corrie's added misery, was at the same time, the very object being used for not only her protection, but also for her mental well-being--as well as those around her.
Unbeknownst to her and those around her, the fleas were actually a blessing. Before Betsy knew a good reason to be thankful for the fleas, she chose to be thankful anyway, as the scripture had instructed her to do.
I thought of the "fleas" in my life. Those things for which I've never been grateful. My new wrinkles--which are actually a sign of my survival. I wept as I thanked Him for laugh lines--the years of joy they represent. My double chin that is the result of having an abundance-- I am well-fed, and then some! Those difficult people, the "fleas" that cross my path from time to time. What is their purpose in my day? "Thank you God, for the life lessons you are willing to teach me through these people. Patience, Mercy, among other valuable, eternal lessons."
My list of things to be grateful for, just continues to grow : The mounting laundry..proof that I am blessed with more clothes than are necessary." My electric bill :and our ability to pay it every month- however difficult it may be, to keep my family warm in the cold, cool during the hot humid temps, able too see in the darkness..." It's actually becoming difficult to stop the thanks giving.
My "fleas" each have a reason to be in my day. Somedays I will know their purpose immediately, some purpose of the fleas may only be known to God. But if I choose to be grateful IN all things like the scripture commands, I will survive those situations (either temporarily or for eternity) and will be at peace during the struggles, big and small that come to every man, woman, boy and girl, walking planet earth.
I am learning to practice the art of gratefulness. True gratefulness. Not just for the obvious "good gifts" I have been given (and they are too numerous to count), but also for my "fleas".
My prayer, to you God, is that you would enable me to see Your hand at work in my life in ALL things that come my way. Help me to trust You-believing that You have my eternal well-fare and well-being in mind, and Your plans for me will always result in good, regardless of the difficulties I must face along the way. Help me to not only trust You, but to thank You for the FLEAS, that carry great purpose, unknown to me.
(Jordan Murphy Photo)
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