Betty and Me

"How does God plan to end things?" Betty often wondered.

Betty's HS grad picture 

I joined the Visitation Team at church and started visiting Betty twice a month. Betty, at 83, was active physically and intellectually. She was a blessing to her independent living community offering rides to others not able to drive, active on Facebook by asking thoughtful spiritual questions, and a generally positive influence on family, friends, and any new acquaintance who happened into her circle.

When I started spending time with Betty, she suggested we study Revelation. Although feeling I was in over my head, I recalled seeing "REVELATION: God's Word for the Biblically-Inept" in our church library, checked it out, and we began.

Revelation 1:1 -- The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place....

Neither Betty or I considered ourselves Biblically-inept; however, when it comes to Revelation, it's a challenge to keep it simple enough to understand in an earthly context. Betty sat with her Bible and I sat with the book. We covered one chapter each time I came and asked thoughtful questions of each other. After our study together, we stood, held hands and recited, "The Lord's Prayer." She always sent me off with a hug.

We had only a few chapters left when Betty suffered a stroke. After a few weeks at an acute care center for physical and speech therapy, Betty returned to her hometown hospital and eventually the nursing home where she sat in a wheel chair unable to speak but a few words at a time in a whisper. But, her eyes sparked when we spoke of her Redeemer King.

We were not able to finish Revelation or the list of other topics she wanted to study: Mark, Daniel, and different religions. When wondering what to say to Betty on one of my last visits, I skipped to the last chapter of Revelation...

22:21 and read--The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen

When it's all said and done, it's all we really need to know, it's all we really need to ask for: GRACE.