So someone I'ver recently gotten to know, Jennifer Burgess, who just herself gave birth to 31 week old twin boys. They are currently in the NICU and doing well. She posted this to her Facebook, it just made me tear up and I just had to steal it from her to share. :)
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...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 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.".
Anyway, I see this apply to so many more out there. We are all chosen to take care of these little ones put in our lap and it takes a strong person to do so. It takes, love, happiness, heart, soul, and most of all knowing your limit and making mistakes along the way, learning from them and growing up with your miracle.
Sorry if that was a bit much, haha.
My posts have been a little mushy lately I know, maybe it's because of hitting 1 year and it's just made me realize all the changes that are happening. Who knows? Hehe.
I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend!
{Be safe and have fun!}
Now I'm a mushy mess! I'm going to have to copy this on over to Twin Time. I was also very emotional around my kids 1 yr. A sense of sadness that they're growing with a sense of happiness that they're healthy and happy. Totally normal (I think, haha)! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteAww, what a sweet post!
ReplyDeleteI love this, us preemie mom's have to stick together. I've awarded you a bloggy award! I hope you have time to accept it, have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL!!!
ReplyDelete