Real messengers of good news and mercy not only come in all shapes and sizes but would rarely be described as shrinking violets. Think about the most beloved woman of valor you know. Chances are she’s not only a vessel of grace and goodwill, but also someone you wouldn’t want to mess with when she’s on a roll.
One such angel of Lutheran heritage is Sister Elisabeth Fedde, a deaconess from Norway who worked primarily in the United States. As a young girl, she prayed for a way she might serve God. She recognized God’s call to become a deaconess and trained as a nurse. Initially Sister Elisabeth traveled miles on foot and by trolley to serve impoverished immigrants. Soon she realized a more established hospital would better meet people’s needs.
Eventually, combining her tireless personal ministry to impoverished Brooklynites with her organizational acumen, she founded two major hospitals. She left a wonderful legacy to those of us who follow!
This message is excerpted from “Angels among us,” by Laura J. Gifford in the March 2021 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Elisabeth Fedde, deaconess, 1921.
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