I stumbled upon this and it got me teary eyed...
(Copied from lpsi.org site)
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 handicapped children.
Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped
children are chosen?What can you do to help your c
child improve his or her behavior?
Follow three basic child rearing rules and
avoid four possible errors.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."Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint,
Cecilia."Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint" give her
Gerard. He is 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 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
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'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 a step ordinary.
When her child says "Mumma" for the first time she
will be present at a miracle and 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 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
