The Special Mother

by Erma Bombeck

found at website: http://members.fortunecity.com/mindy4799/pleasespeaktome/

This site is an excellent resource for any family dealing with special needs children! I highly recommend it!

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice,
a few by social pressure, and a couple by habit. This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how these mothers 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 take notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew" Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia." "Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity"

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 a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel.
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. "Once the shock and resentment wear off she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of it's own. She has to make it 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 will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. 
She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a spoken word.
She will never consider a step ordinary.
When her child says 'momma' for the first time , she will be witness to a miracle and 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 she is by my side.
"And what about a Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air. God smiles. " A mirror will suffice."

By Erma Bombeck
 

@>~~