A Special Mother

[Guest guest]

I found this. Maybe someone has read it before, it brought tears to

my eyes. I hope it does not offend anyone.

A Special Mother:

By Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by

social pressures and a couple by habit. This year nearly 100,000

women will become mothers of a special needs child. Did you ever

wonder how mothers of these children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his

instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He

observes, He instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger:

" Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint. . .give her Gerard. He's used

to profanity. "

" Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia. "

" Rutledge, ; twins. Patron saint, . "

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, " Give her a special

needs child. "

The angel is curious. " Why this one God? She's so happy. "

" Exactly, " smiles God, " Could I give a special child to a mother who

does not know laughter? That would be cruel. "

" But has she patience? " asks the angel.

" I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a

sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears

off, she'll handle it. "

" I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence

that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm

going to give her has her own world. She has to make her live in her

world and that's not going to be easy. "

" But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you. "

God smiles, " No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect – she

has just enough selfishness. "

The angel gasps – " selfishness? is that a virtue? "

God nods. " If she can't separate herself from the child

occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will

bless with a child less than perfect.

She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied.

She will never take for granted a `spoken word' " . She will not

consider a " step " ordinary. When her child says `Momma' for the

first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it! When

she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it

as few people ever see my creations. "

" I will permit her to see clearly the things I see. . .ignorance,

cruelty, prejudice. . .and allow her to rise above them. She will

never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of

her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here

by My side. "

" And what about her Patron saint? " asks the angel, his pen poised in

mid-air.

God smiles, " A mirror will suffice. "