RE: Happy Mothers' Day

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for sharing this. I'm sure every mom reading this will cry (

just like I did). It's so true.

You are right, we witness such miracles that are blessings.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mothers' Day

I'm posting this in honor of my mother who died almost 9 years ago. I

found the poem by Erma Bombeck in her things after she died. I made it

a point to read it to all of my classes to help them better understand

families. No one knows the joys and the pain of having a child with

disabilities more than the mothers. Please excuse some of the

terminology. The piece was penned many years ago.

Did you ever wonder how mothers of disabled children were chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over the 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.

" This one gets a daughter. The Patron saint will be Cecelia. "

" This one gets twins. The Patron saint will be . "

" This one gets a son. The Patron saint.... give her Gerard. He's

used to profanity "

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

child. "

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

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

does not know laughter? That would be cruel. "

" But has she patience? " askes 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 his own world. She has to

make him 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

never consider any 'step' ordinary. When her child says " Momma " for

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

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

and 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 Paton saint? " asks the angel, his pen poised in

mid air. God smiles, " A mirror will suffice. "