For The Moms

[Guest guest]

Many of you may have already seen this. I am not a very emotional guy but

when I read this it kinda got to me.

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 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 not consider a

" step " ordinary. When her child says 'Mama' 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. "

Bill and Charlotte

Toney, Alabama