A Bible Study with Rose By Carolyn Blum This certainly wasn’t a traditional Bible study. Yet during my mom’s last days, as she was being consumed by the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease, Rose continued to be a witness for God, seemingly unaware that He still had need of her. How could God continue to use an elderly woman whose mind was constantly battling with itself? The nursing staff struggled to calm her when she would become agitated. What could they do? The answer was clear: God’s Word. When we would read the Bible out loud, Mom’s agitation would disappear and she’d be at peace. No, this wasn’t a traditional Bible study, but His Word echoed throughout the nursing home. As family members, we’d read to Mom whenever we could. And when we weren’t able to be with her, we encouraged the nursing staff to read. Because it didn’t matter to my mom which portion of the Bible was read, we marked selections from the book of John and the Psalms. We could almost hear her urging us to choose passages that might be easily grasped by first-time Bible readers. No, this wasn’t a typical Bible study. Yet the staff started to read the Bible to Rose. His Word echoed throughout the nursing home. Not only did the staff read to her, but several told us how reading the Bible aloud meant so much to them personally. Beautifully, other residents and staff would hear these readings. And Rose also heard about God’s love for her. Since she had heard about God’s love in His Word as a child, it isn’t surprising that so many years later, God’s Word brought her to a peaceful rest. By her example, Rose taught us that God gives dignity and purpose to every life, including the time when common sense might say life is over. Her legacy will live on, not only in her family, but also in those whose lives may be saved by the Holy Spirit working through her need to hear the Word of God read aloud in all those untraditional Bible studies. Carolyn shares: “My mom, Rose Myers, is wearing her mother’s hat — the navy blue straw hat that my grandma (my mom’s mother) wore to church every Sunday for as far back as I can remember.” Carolyn Blum is a child of God serving as South Wisconsin District LWML President and a Mission-Ministry Vision Consultant. She is an avid bicycle rider and a member of Divine Savior, Hartford, Wisconsin.