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| Courtesy of Michelle Godin Designs |
"You don't look out there for God, something in the sky, you look in you."
- Alan Watts
It's timely that I found that quote, since a few days ago, a friend posted something on Facebook that I love:
How Preemie Moms Are Chosen
(Adapted from Erma Bombeck)
(Adapted from Erma Bombeck)
Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies 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: "Beth Armstrong, son. Patron Saint, Matthew. Marjorie Forrest, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia. Carrie Rutledge, twins. Patron Saint ... give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a preemie." The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby 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 so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its 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 the right amount of 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 'mama' 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, his pen poised in the air.
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."
---------
Being the mom of a preemie, I used to wonder "why me" at first. But then I figured it was because I already knew how to deal with a baby that was born full-term, having taken care of numerous nephews and nieces. So, I figured that having a baby born two months early was a "challenge" that I needed.
And it was a challenge for the first few months, trying to make sure I could keep him alive. Now that he's healthy and on track, I am thankful for every moment of that challenge.
Yes, I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
"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 the right amount of 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 'mama' 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, his pen poised in the air.
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."
---------
Being the mom of a preemie, I used to wonder "why me" at first. But then I figured it was because I already knew how to deal with a baby that was born full-term, having taken care of numerous nephews and nieces. So, I figured that having a baby born two months early was a "challenge" that I needed.And it was a challenge for the first few months, trying to make sure I could keep him alive. Now that he's healthy and on track, I am thankful for every moment of that challenge.
Yes, I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
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