Mothers of Preemies...

One of the 'veteran' parents at the NICU left me a card yesterday. She is one of the ones that held me as I cried the first time I ever met her...actually within the first 30 seconds of meeting her. I wanted to share what was in the card as it moved me deeply...
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Did you ever wonder how 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 note in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew.
Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, Patron Saint, Celia.
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 preemie."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby to 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 wears off, she'll handle it.
"I watched her today. She has a 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 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 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 momma 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."