Irena Sendler a Loving, Courageous Christian woman was one of the most dedicated and active workers in aiding Jews during the Nazi occupation of Poland. She was raised by her Christian Parents to Love and care for people regardless of their beliefs or social status and her life showed she did but Irena also stood up against what she knew was wrong
Her father a Physician, died from Typhus that he contracted during an epidemic in 1917. He was the only Doctor in his town near Warsaw who would treat the poor, mostly Jewish victims of this tragic disease. As he was dying, he told 7-year-old Irena…
“If you see someone drowning you must try to rescue them, even if you cannot swim.”
In 1939 the Nazis swept through Poland and imprisoned the Jews in ghettos where they were first starved to death and then systematically murdered in killing camps. Irena, by than a social worker in Warsaw saw the Jewish people drowning and resolved to do what she could to rescue as many as possible, especially the Children.
As an employee of the Social Welfare Department, she had a special permit to enter the Warsaw Ghetto to check for signs of typhus, something the Nazis feared would spread beyond the Ghetto. During these visits, she wore a Star of David as a sign of solidarity with the Jewish people and so as not to call attention to herself… Her heart goal was to save as many Children as she could and with the help of the Catholic Church and other caring Christians who supported her. Her courage enabled not only the survival of 2,500 Jewish Children but also of the generations of their descendants.
Irena “code name Jolanta” smuggled out infants in the bottom of a tool box she carried in the back of her truck. She used a burlap sack for bigger Children. She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers wanted nothing to do with her dog and thankfully the barking covered noises of the infants some of who were also sedated to keep them from crying. Older children who could pretend to be ill were taken out in Ambulances, with help many were smuggled through sewers or underground tunnels, or taken through an old Courthouse or Church next to the Ghetto.
Irena listed the name and new identity of every rescued Child, she hid the list in glass jars and buried them under an Apple tree in her friend’s backyard. Her hope was to reunite the Children with their families after the war. Indeed, though most of their parents perished in the Warsaw Ghetto or in Treblinka, those Children who had surviving relatives were returned to them after the War the rest were adopted by caring families.
For two years, Irena’s covert operations were successful. Then, in October 20 1943 the Gestapo caught up with her. She was arrested, imprisoned in Warsaw’s notorious Pawiak prison, and tortured her feet and legs were broken, yet even in her pain Irena refused to betray any of her co-conspirators or to reveal the whereabouts of any of the Children. She needed crutches and a wheelchair as a result of those injuries until she died in May 2008 at the age of 98 also still having the scars of those beatings Irena was sentenced to death but with help she escaped from prison, but for the rest of the War she was pursued by the Gestapo.
Irena Sendler was awarded the Order of White Eagle, Poland’s highest distinction in Warsaw in 2003 at a special session in Poland’s upper house of Parliament, the President announced the unanimous resolution to honor Mrs. Sendler for rescuing the most defenseless victims of the Nazi ideology…”The Jewish Children.” He referred to her as a “great heroine who can be justly named for the Nobel Peace Prize. She deserves great respect from our whole Nation.”
When asked…”Where was God during the Holocaust ” Irena answered ” In my Heart “
Story received by E-mail, Author unknown.
When we are in Christ Jesus He rises in our Heart and we are His Hands, His Feet, His Voice, His Arms and in Love and Compassion we reach out to those who are drowning in the Storms of Life and even if we find it hard to Stand in the Storms, Jesus will Stand for us and because we Trust in Him we do not fear.
It’s not in His will that we suffer in His Name as the Scripture below confirms but He knows we will and No we don’t rejoice for how we suffer or seek to suffer needlessly but we rejoice that He is with us in whatever we suffer and we can be assured it will be used for good in our lives and in the lives of others.
Isaiah 43:1-3 – Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.”
Jeremiah 29 :11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of Peace and not of evil, to give you a Future and a Hope.
Lamentations 3: 33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men.
Christian Love in our Unity in Christ Jesus – Anne.
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Reblogged this on Food for Thought.
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Thank you nuvofelt both for the Reblog and for your Link to your other Blog, I had found it but than I lost it again when I accidentally deleted all of my July Blogging at least there will not be much filing to do this month but it has caused problems..
Blessings – Anne.
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Praise God that He will have His way – even in the darkest of times. Thanks for sharing, Anne.
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Yes very True nuvofelt and His ways are always about Love, how He grieves to see His little ones suffer and us too, sadly some claim He plans it that way but that is not what He tells us in the Scriptures, as we see above and in others in the Bible. God’s discipline is different than they claim too, it’s like it was with the Prodigal Son, we reap what we sow till we come to our senses and repent.
I will look forward tomorrow to visiting you now that I have your other Link nuvofelt, I really thought you had left your first Blog as I did not receive any Posts for a long time and when I checked I could only find old ones and I was disappointed, I remember that we had the same heart focus about most things.
I also have lost contact with Bloggers at times due to Computer problems so I really appreciate you staying in touch with me nuvofelt
Christian Love Always – Anne.
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Computers! They are a blessing and a curse! Chittle Chattle blog seems to be only Wordless Wednesdays at the moment. I’m sure there will be another season soon 😉
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I’m following you nuvofelt now on both your Blogs and I’m looking forward to sharing with you both with your Messages and mine and your responses to my comments and mine to yours.
Blessings – Anne.
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I know the story my friend and you did the story justice. Brilliant work
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Hi Barb Thanks for visiting, I received this Story by e-mail years ago and yes it’s great, I’m pleased you liked it, I really enjoy True life Stories with a powerful message that focus on God and His Love and Mercy.
See you soon on your Blog – Love Anne.
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Well written Anne! I love the comment “In my heart”. That’s where His Spirit resides through thick and thin, easy and hard, sad and glad. Blessings to you! Marie
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Yes I agree Marie, Jesus rises in our heart and we know than without a doubt the Godhead or Trinity as They are called today are all about Love, They can be no other way but it is not a Saccharin sweet love but a righteous Love and we too will walk as Jesus walked as shown with Irena.
Thank you for visiting and sharing Marie, I appreciate you doing so.
Christian Love Always – Anne.
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This is a wonderful story of love, fiath, and hope. Thank you for posting it, I did not know about Irena Sendler her love for those children and her courage to trust and do what God asked her to do in the middle of such a horrific situation is amazing and so touching.
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Yes I thought it was a wonderful story too T, what an amazing woman, what an Awesome God we have, sad some would claim He planned for Irena’s feet and legs to be broken, how little they know about our God of Love.
Thank you T for visiting and sharing, I was planing to visit you tonight and others, I hope I haven’t missed too many of your Posts, I had two young girls, come and stay for a few days, they are Sisters 8 &10, Wow it was go, go, go but we had fun, we sang and danced, made cakes and bracelets and colored in pictures and than did word searches, talked for hours about everything you could imagine, instead of sleeping and yes Grannie Annie is exhausted but very thankful for God’s gift of Children.
See you soon – Blessings Anne.
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oh no the email came back I must have the wrong email address. Can you email me at tluvs2trvl@gmail.com or put your email address here? thanks Anne
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It sounds like you had a lot of fun Anne 🙂
I tried to email you about Darlyn but seem to have the wrong email address because it came back undeliverable. Just in case my blog doesn’t notify you I also will ask you here to email me at tluvs2trvl@gmail.com or leave your email address for me in the comments so I can try to resend the email. Thank you for sponsoring her and for the time and love you give so many children.
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Sorry T I have a new e-mail address, I sent you an e-mail earlier today so you should have it when you wake up, let me know if you don’t receive it.
Both the girls asked if they could sleep over again on Friday night so once more Grannie Annie will be on the go, but I had to laugh because the younger girl has a new doll, it’s a Cinderella one but she has called it Anne after me, I hope with my corns the Slipper will fit me but I’m not sure, it might be a tight squeeze Lol
Look forward to hearing from you T- Christian Love – Anne
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Yes its a stirring story of Irena Sendler, one of much courage, faith and compassion with her overwhelming desire to get as many children free, and to begin a new life .It shows how even in such horrific situations ,God was still working using the willingness of Irena , to bring to those children ,some hope and a future . If one deserves a medal then Irena certainly qualified, an Uplifting story.
Blessings
Ron.
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Yes I agree Love, Irena Sendler was a woman after God’s own heart, her sacrificial Love shows where her heart focus was.
Thanks for sharing – Love and Blessings – Anne.
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Annie… As I read your post, Proverbs 3:27 came to mind, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.” May we realize the power we have through faith in Jesus Christ. And may our response be to act and do good in the name of Jesus Christ. Thanks for sharing this story!
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Thank you Debbie for sharing Proverbs 3:27 it’s so good that you share Scripture from your heart, they always uplift me and yes Irena Sendler’s life story is a wonderful example of God’s Love in Action.
I was thinking about you this morning Debbie and than I received your Post, so I knew you were Back and will visit you tomorrow, I hope you had a enjoyable time away.
Christian Love – Anne.
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