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? 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 Cecelia. Rudledge,

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,' says 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 wear off,

she'll handle it. 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 that 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 Momma 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, pen poised in

midair.

God smiles, 'A mirror will suffice.'