It is also about their father. I love reading about Corrie and Betsy but after reading through this book a second time, I was especially drawn to "Father." This was a gentle watch salesman and repairman. He was a widower living with daughters. He was a godly man who was willing to risk everything (and he did) for God. His influence on the lives of his daughters is felt on every page.
Here's one example of the kind of wisdom he had in answering a difficult question from his little girl Corrie:
He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the rack over our heads, and set it on the floor.
'Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?" he said.
I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning.
"It's too heavy," I said.
"Yes," he said. "And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you."
And I was satisfied. More than satisfied - wonderfully at peace. There were answers to this and all my hard questions - for now I was content to leave them in my father's keeping.
Wise words indeed. Oh that we would have wise words for our children that would equip them for the many dangers, toils and snares that await them in this world.
