Eva Brewster Exhibit

I read in the paper yesterday that the Galt Museum's exhibit of Eva Brewster would be over Sunday and so I thought I would take my older children and experience the newly renovated museum and learn more about this great woman. What a fantastic experience it was. We had not been to the museum since the renovations and I found it to be very well thought out and the local exhibit, which is permanent I believe, to be very interesting. My children loved it and spent a lot of time exploring and experiencing history for themselves. I spent most of my time in the Eva Brewster exhibit and had a variety of feelings while learning more about Eva.

My husband took care of Eva in the last days of her life. He really enjoyed getting to know her. She had an amazing life. The heart ache she has endured helps me to appreciate the life I lead. How grateful I am to live in a free country where I can believe what I want to believe and where I am not persecuted for those beliefs. How grateful I am that my husband and children can not be taken from me and gassed in a gas chamber. I am grateful that I live in a community where I can let my children play without fear. Where we watch out for each others children and care about there welfare.

As I read about the attrocities that were commited I felt sick to my stomach and I wondered how anyone could carry out those acts. What hate had been carefully tended. What thoughts had led to such horror. I wondered what kind of person I would have been. I believe that I would have been grateful for the easy way out. I'm not sure that I would have been strong enough to endure what Eva endured especially because of my beliefs about what is waiting for me in the next life. Perhaps if I had had children to live for, or a husband to see when I was freed I would have had the strength. But Eva lost both her young daughter and husband in the gas chambers. She did have her mother to live for and siblings that had escaped to neutral territory. I want to read her book and find out what gave her the strength she needed to endure the daily torture.
I have read Corrie Ten Boom's books and I know that for her, God was her strength. She had Jesus in her heart from the time she was five and from that time she had great faith in His plan and His ability to carry it out. The word of God also gave her strength and she risked her life smuggling it into camp because of how important she felt it was. She felt peace in the most horrendous of circumstances because of her faith.
What trials will I face in my life? How will I endure to the end with a happy and peaceful heart? I desire to have the faith of Corrie Ten Boom. I know that with faith like hers I will have peace in any circumstance.

karina