Many of you have a friend or loved one who lives in a care facility in Lexington.

I have 20 members of my church who are living in 10 different assisted living centers.

After a year of isolation, family and friends have been able to go and visit these dear people.

It’s like a prison sentence has been lifted!

I am so thankful for the way these elderly saints have survived a long and very tough situation.

They endured many lonely days when they had to remain in their rooms, not mingling with other residents.

Meals were brought to their rooms where they had to eat alone.

As I have walked into the rooms of these friends, I have been greeted by pure joy on each face.

I was reminded that even though letters and phone calls have been great, there is no substitute for being face to face.

There is one gentleman who has been at National Health Care for several years following a stroke.He is 87 years old.

He is so joyful and content even in his circumstances.

He never complains about anything and is just thankful for all the care he receives.

The caregivers consider him a blessing to their lives.

He told me how glad he is to be there, because if he were at home he would have no one to talk to.

That reminded me that 2 people can have identical circumstances in life and yet each can react very differently.

I have known people on opposite ends of the spectrum of coping abilities.

You might say there are just some who are weak and some who are strong.

To the strong I say, “Praise God, you are the kind of person God can use to help the weak!”

To the weak I say, “Praise God, you are the kind of person in whom God’s strength is made most evident!”

Next: What the others are here for

Dan Williams is the senior adult pastor at Lexington Baptist Church.