How Preemie Mom's Are Chosen

I ran accross this post on the Preemie Connection Forum-a favourite place of mine to get advice from other mom's like me about our preemie's-the info ranges from pre-birth & NICU stays to older child development issues of preemies...

Enjoy, this is really sweet!

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen

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. "Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint Celia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins. patron Saint...better 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 wear off she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and necessary in a mother.

You see, the child I'm going to give her lives in a world of it's 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 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." "And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air. God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."