Some 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 handicapped children. Did
you ever wonder how mothers of
handicapped 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, Carrie; twins. Patron
saint, Matthew."
Finally He passes a name to an angel
and smiles, "Give her a handicapped
child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one
God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give
a handicapped 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! "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."
by Erma Bombeck