My Lovely Wife Part 2

S~ Okay, those of you who know me might be thinking I am just kissing up for more Christmas presents, and while that is true, I have gained a deeper respect for Teresa this week by being a single Dad here at home. So I wanted to share this newspaper article that Teresa's Dad sent her. It made both of us cry and I thought I would share it with allof you. This is Teresa to a tee!

Written by Erma Bombeck Published in Today Newspaper September 4th 1993

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 angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth; son; patron saint, Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie; daughter; patron saint, Cecelia. Rudledge, 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 give such a child to 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 wears off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence. She'll have to teach the child to live in her world, and that's not going to be easy. 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 her child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, there is a woman I will bless with a child the world perceives as 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 her child says ‘Mommy‘ for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she explains a tree or a sunset to her 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 work as surely as if she were here by my side.”
“And what about her patron saint?” asks the angel, his pen poised in midair.
God smiles. “A mirror will suffice.”