The Special Mother

Someone sent this to me after I found out my son had CF this can relate to many amazing mothers out there!

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social
pressures and a couple by habit. This year thousands of mothers will
give birth to a "less than perfect" baby.

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of these angels 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, Matthew."

"Forest, Marjorie, daughter, Patron saint, Ceceila."

"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 baby with
Cystic Fibrosis."

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

"Exactly", smiles God. "Could I give a sick baby to a mother who does
not know laughter? That would be cruel"

"But does she have 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 wear off, she'll
handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence that
are 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 who comes in a less than perfect way. 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
a step ordinary. When her child says "Mommy" 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 here by my side.

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, the pen poised in mid
air.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."