Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by
social pressures and a couple by habit.


This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of
handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped
children 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 angles to make notes in a giant ledger.


"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron saint, Matthew."
"Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint...give her Gerard.
he's used to profanity."


Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles,
"Give her a handicapped child."


The angel is curious. "why this one, God? She's so Happy."


"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who
does not know laughter? That would be cruel."


"But, has she 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."


"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
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 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 present at a miracle and know it!  When she describes a tree or 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 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 surely as  if she is here by my side."


"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised
in mid air.


God smiles,"  A mirror will suffice."

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his
writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw
a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think
of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't
dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up
something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The
young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll
die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked another starfish
and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said- "It made a
difference for that one."

There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all
been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can become aware of
that gift, we gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future.

We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well,
the world will be blessed.