Pixel-presents for Mother’s Day

Because they are wonderful, daughter Pastor Annie wrote this very sweet note on Facebook, and son-in-law Sean created the new, celebratory banner you see at the top of Sue’s blog. Thanks for being such good kids, Dad (Paul Edison-Swift)

Here is the link to Annie’s note on Facebook. Since some of you may not be on Facebook yet, here is the text:

Sue Edison-Swift: One Brave Mommy
by Anne Edison-Albright on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 11:31am

Most of you know that my mom took a fall this week and ended up with a broken ankle. If you haven’t already, you should definitely read her account of the story on her blog: http://sue.edison-swift.com/. As I read her story, I was struck by a couple of things:

• Mom was in Baltimore when she fell, because Mom is a serious go-getter. She’s working on a 6 week communications project at Lutheran World Relief; she is kicking butt, she is taking names, she is making sure those names are spelled correctly. She’s been commuting between Chicago and Baltimore every week and, even when tired, giving every ounce of herself to doing this job and doing this well. I have no doubt that she will continue to do amazing work, even through the pain and exhaustion of her recuperation time. That’s just what she does.
• When you read her story, you’ll notice that it is a giant Thank You letter to all the people who helped her–at LWR, at the hospital, at the hotel, at the airport. As you read her gracious words of gratitude, keep in mind that, in the moments when she was most vulnerable, Mom managed to charm and delight a whole host of people.
• You may already know that my mom is good in a crisis. When someone in the family is sick, when someone has died, when something happens that throws everyone for a loop, Sue Edison-Swift is in her element and keeping us calm. This story is different, though. This is a crisis where she is the one who needs help. That same grace and courage under pressure shows up in a different way. It can be seen in her willingness to ask for help when she needed it, in the gracious way she accepted that help, and in the way the people who helped her responded to her.
• In the chaplain world we often say that it is our honor to be with people in their moments of need; I am sure that the people who helped my mom feel that sense of honor, that sense of having done something really positive to help someone. My mom made sure they knew that what they were doing was appreciated and important. I know from experience: that is a great gift.

Mom's cast/medal of courage

You may be thinking that I’m a little biased. This is most certainly true. My role in this story started when I was in her womb, doing everything I possibly could to make her miserable (not intentionally … at least, I don’t think it was intentional.) For as long as I’ve known her, longer than I can remember, my mom has been a hero.

She is one brave Mommy.