We were seven weeks into the eight-week flu season and I thought I was safe. I thought wrong. Viral influenza hit my husband first—the one who never gets sick—and then me, his faithful nurse. I took him to the doctor on Monday and by Tuesday noon I was shivering and shaking and unable to swallow. That ended up being the case for the next five days.

Of course these things inevitably happen when deadlines are looming. Somehow the nasty bug knew it was the day before layout and production was to begin for the March 4 issue of ChristianWeek. It was two days before the start of layout and production for the March issue of ChristianCurrent. Not good timing at all.

There I lay flat in bed, unable to think, let alone get two papers ready for press and finish writing the articles for which I was responsible. I coughed and sputtered and worried about work.

But lest you think this is a rant for sympathy, or that I do everything around here, that’s certainly not the case. Far from it.

No, this is merely the background text to the real story. It is the staff here at Fellowship for Print Witness—in particular Harold and Naomi (editorial) and Ryan and Eve (design)—who are to be applauded.

They didn’t complain when I kept calling in sick, but continued on in my absence, sending editing and proofing to me via e-mail, taking some rather hoarse instructions over the phone, adding extra steps to their day so I could take less in mine. I staggered back to the office—still somewhat in a fog—just in time to sign off on their great job.

For me, this was lesson in humility and gratitude. This business of putting out a paper every two weeks is most definitely not a one-man—or woman—show. My coworkers’ willingness to go those extra miles behind the scenes let me get healthy, and provided you, our readers, with another excellent issue filled to the brim with news you need to lead. Thanks, guys.