TONIGHT, Join Steven & Friends for "Be Thankful for Your Fleas!" with Warriors for Life (WFL)

Col (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
11 hours ago
4 min read

Join our Volunteer, Air Force Veteran, Peer Support Specialist, and Writer/Author Steven Bates TONIGHT for "Mid-Week Musings!" edition of Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, sponsored and presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV).

We are asking everyone to share who we are and what support that Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is providing via WFL. If you know someone who is a veteran, first responder or a family member/caregiver, please ask them to join us for at least one meeting so they can learn more about what we do and how they can share their wisdom with others who may be able to learn from them.

TONIGHT's Topic: "Be Thankful for Your Fleas!"

"During World War II, a young lady named Corrie Ten Boom and her family used to hide Jewish families from the Nazis in an attic room. When captured and sent to a concentration camp, Corrie and her older sister were assigned to Cell Block 28, which was notoriously infested with fleas.

This was the breaking point for Corrie, but her older sister, very faithful and religious, reassured her that their religion taught them to be thankful for everything, even the fleas. Eventually, Corrie and her sister created a Bible study group within the cell block, which, even though highly illegal in the camp, was never broken up or investigated by the Nazis. The Bible group prospered and continued until the camp was freed. At that time, Corrie was able to ask a guard why the cell block was never raided. The answer was simple: the guards were afraid of the fleas. The lesson here is that the one thing that almost broke the spirit of the prisoners was the one thing that saved them from any harassment, torture, and investigations."

Yes, guards at Ravensbrück concentration camp feared fleas, which allowed Corrie ten Boom, her sister Betsie, and other prisoners to hold secret Bible studies and prayer meetings in their infested barracks, a blessing Corrie learned to thank God for despite the hardship, as recounted in The Hiding Place.

The Story in The Hiding Place

Infestation: Corrie and Betsie's barracks at Ravensbrück were severely infested with fleas and lice, making conditions miserable.
The Revelation: Corrie initially struggled to thank God for the fleas, but Betsie insisted they were part of God's plan. They soon realized the guards wouldn't enter their barracks because they feared catching the pests.
A Blessing in Disguise: This freedom from guard interference allowed the sisters to conduct secret, powerful Bible studies and gospel meetings, leading many women to faith.
Gratitude as a Weapon: Corrie's experience taught her that genuine gratitude involves choosing thankfulness even in suffering, recognizing God's purpose in difficult circumstances, and turning hardships into opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry.

This story highlights Corrie ten Boom's remarkable faith and ability to find blessings and purpose even in the horrific conditions of the Holocaust.

Being thankful for fleas and mental health struggles stems from finding unexpected blessings in hardship, famously illustrated by Corrie ten Boom's story in The Hiding Place, where flea-infested barracks allowed secret Bible studies, and modern gratitude practices show focusing on good aspects, even small ones, improves well-being by shifting perspective, reducing anxiety, and fostering resilience, even when dealing with complex issues like depression.

The "Fleas" Analogy: Finding Good in the Bad

Corrie Ten Boom's Story: In a Nazi concentration camp, Corrie's sister Betsie found joy in thanking God for fleas, a seemingly awful situation. Because of the fleas, guards avoided their barracks, allowing them to hold secret Bible studies where many found hope, demonstrating how a trial (fleas) became an opportunity for spiritual growth.
Practical Application: This story encourages finding "fleas" in your own life (annoying challenges, financial stress, difficult relationships) and asking what good might come from them—perhaps increased patience, deeper faith, or a chance to connect with others.

Gratitude and Mental Health

Shifts Perspective: Actively practicing gratitude trains your brain to notice positive aspects, counteracting negativity, anxiety, and depression.
Increases Well-being: A grateful mindset is linked to greater life satisfaction, better self-esteem, and improved overall health.
Reduces Negative Emotions: You can't simultaneously feel grateful and deeply bitter, angry, or self-pitying, making gratitude a powerful tool against negativity.

Being Thankful for Mental Health Issues

Acknowledge the Struggle: This isn't about being thankful for the suffering itself, but for the lessons, strength, and empathy that can emerge from it.
Focus on Growth: Mental health challenges can foster resilience, deeper self-understanding, and a greater appreciation for mental wellness.
Seek Help & Practice Gratitude: Use gratitude to navigate these struggles, finding small things to appreciate while seeking professional support for the condition itself, recognizing the journey toward health is valuable.

In essence, the idea is to "zoom out" from immediate discomfort, as exemplified by the Ten Booms, to see the bigger picture and find grace, even in the flea-infested parts of life, which is a core practice for improving mental health.

"As a veteran, many times our fleas are things that have driven us to the point of breaking, but by their very nature have possibly saved our lives. Such things are our hyper-vigilance, our attention to detail, and our repetitive obsession with security. Oftentimes, these traits have alerted us to dangers that have allowed us to prevent adverse scenarios from happening. Granted, their very existence is an annoyance to say the least, but they may possibly save us in some scenarios. So what are your fleas to be thankful for?"

Let's discuss being thankful for fleas with Air Force veteran, author, and Peer Support Specialist Steven Bates during the Warriors for Life Mid-Week Musings Peer Support Group tonight!"

Warriors for Life (WFL) Online "Mid-Week Musings!" edition presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) — Wednesday (TONIGHT), December 10, 2025, @ 4:30 PM PT, 5:30 PM MT, 6:30 PM CT, & 7:30 PM ET

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87440882846

Thank you,

Steven Bates

Air Force Veteran, Writer/Author, Peer Support Specialist, &

Volunteer Facilitator, Victory for Veterans, Inc.