Did you ever wonder how these children are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over the 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.

"Armstong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew."
"Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint Cecilia."
"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 special needs child."

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

"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I have a special needs child 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 is not going to be
easy."

"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiled. "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 the child says "momma' for the first time, she will be a witness to 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 about 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 smiled. "A mirror will suffice."

~~~~Erma Bombeck~~~~