Comparing Corrie and Betsie

If you read The Hiding Place, you will meet two special sisters. Here I have defined some of their strengths and ways they used their strengths to overcome each others weaknesses.

Comparing Corrie & Betsie

Is it possible to have a flourishing relationship with a person who possess striking differences? When a relationship is pursued there will be differences to overcome. Within the family, there will be ample situations where differences are drawn out. Siblings who overcome their differences experience overflowing blessings, such as friendship. Two sisters who experiencedone suchfriendship, portrayed in the book, The Hiding Place, are Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom. By observing the differences in the sisters’ personality, physicality, and spirituality as well as how they choose to value these differences, you can comprehend that the blessings of their intimate relationship may occur throughout your relationships too. 

Corrie and Betsie’s different, though complimentary, personalities worked together harmoniously. Corrie, a servant leader, often acted as a backbone to her family, bearing the heavy work. When someone was ailing she aided tremendously; for instance, after her father became ill she began accompanying him during his daily walks. Even during a span of time after his illness she continued this accompaniment, “Though it was years now since his illness, Father still walked unsteadily and I still went with him on his daily stroll through the downtown streets.”(73) Dearly, Corrie loved her family. She protectively cared for them in this example and others. As Corrie rose up in service for her family, the leader in her began to take initiative, discovering abundant practical opportunities to bless her family. Because of the protective nature she had toward her family, she was often skeptical and guarded. While Corrie is portrayed as a servant leader, Betsie is portrayed as a giver, trusting God with open hands. Betsie lived as a giver; she gave trustfully, knowing God would provide abundantly. Also she possessed a gift for engaging with people. Her love for people,even for those who you would expect to be a nemesis, allowed her to see the bigger picture in radiant light! When the Beje was raided, Betsie pitied the officer who assaulted her, “I feel so sorry for him,”(145) she confessed to Corrie contrary to an expected reaction. Wherever she gazed she fixated on the beauty, hope, and truth of God instead of the detrimental effects of sin. While Betsie reminded Corrie of what God was teaching them, Corrie kept Betsie grounded. Betsie’s selfless acts conceivably influenced the decline of her fragile health. 

On Corrie’s physical strength Betsie depended. Betsie relied on Corrie for physical strength because she was often in frail condition. In the concentration camps Corrie kept Betsie going. For example, the day they left Vught they were required to march a lengthy distance, “Through the drab streets of barracks we went, passed the bunkers, through the maze of barbed-wire compounds and enclosures, and at last onto the rough dirt road through the woods down which we had stumbled that rainy night in June. Betsie hung hard to my arm; she was laboring for breath as she always did when she had to walk any distance…I slipped my arm beneath Betsie’s shoulders and half-carried her the final quarter-mile.” (197) Without Corrie, Betsie would not have endured the length she did. This is one of many examples where Corrie’s strength upheld Betsie. However, though Corrie maintained physical strength, Betsie demonstrated spiritual resilience. 

Corrie’s spirit stretched as she pursued Betsie’s awe-inspiring example. Many instances, when Corrie wrestled troubling questions, she approached Betsie who repeatedly presented her with answers that baffled her. For instance, when Corrie’s heart felt heavy with discouragement from their cruel, cold guard, Betsie turned to her and exclaimed, “‘These young women. That girl back at the bunkers. Corrie, if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love! We must find the way, you and I, no matter how long it takes…’”(188) This ironic response stunned Corrie who marveled, “…And I wondered, not for the first time, what sort of a person she was, this sister of mine…what kind of road she followed while I trudged beside her on the all-too-solid earth.” (188) Often awestruck by Betsie’s wisdom, Corrie reacted by seeking her Heavenly Father. He used both sisters with their different strengths and weaknesses for His glory. 

If one chooses to learn from Corrie and Betsie’s different personality, physicality, and spirituality it is achievable to draw insight from their priceless friendship. Corrie, a servant leader, blessed others with her actions, and Betsie, who trusted and loved, blessed with gifts. Betsie leaned on Corrie’s physical strength; Corrie drew from Betsie’s spiritual insight. I passionately encourage you not only to build off of Corrie and Betsie’s influence, but to approach someone in your family and invest in a relationship with them; value their strengths and serve them in their weaknesses as Corrie and Betsie demonstrated as they sincerely loved each other.