I've never seen the gifts of caring, service and love more poignantly demonstrated than at the 2003 Lexington Family Weekend.

The story unfolds when, unfortunately, I became quite ill at the end of the weekend, rendering me unable to fly home on Sunday afternoon as scheduled. So I decided to remain at the hotel for the evening hoping that the fever would subside enough to travel home the next day. However, the symptoms persisted prompting me to call the pastor and ask if there was a member in the area who would be willing to take me to the emergency room for treatment.

Within an hour he had sent a very nice lady to my aid named Clarissa Cowen. She spent the next six hours with me as we waited for the ER staff and doctor to see me. I was very moved by her expressions of compassion and willingness to take care of my needs. She never once complained about the long wait, nor did she express impatience or irritation during the entire ordeal. Instead, she simply stated that she understood what I was going through.

By her Christian example, I was able to see a few scriptures comes alive, such as Matthew 25:36 which mentions visiting the sick, and especially comforting one another as outlined in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. This is such an important quality to have, not only in this life, but in our future jobs as kings and priests in the world tomorrow. The strength we gain from weathering our trials can be used to help someone else along the way who experiences similar setbacks and sometimes even severe heartache.

By evening's end, I was met with another very kind offer, as evidently word had spread of my inability to travel for a few more days. As a result, Linda Graby and her family graciously offered a spare room in their home where I could recuperate and avoid additional hotel charges. She even took the time to make a special dish to speed my recovery.

As I expressed appreciation to her for "taking in a total stranger" she replied, "Oh, you're not a stranger—you're family! We can't have you staying in a hotel room especially when you are not feeling well. We're glad to do it." She lovingly demonstrated the biblical instruction about being hospitable as noted in Romans 12:13 and Matthew 25:35. I felt very safe and comfortable knowing I was in good hands.

This article would not be complete if I did not mention the generosity extended by an individual who made my entire trip possible.