Autism Mothers Chosen By God
-modified version of a poem written by Erma Bombeck
http://autismparents.net/autism-mothers-chosen-by-god/

Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with autism 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."

“Forrest, Marjorie, daughter."

“Rudledge, Carrie, twins."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles, “Give her a child with autism.”

The angel is curious. “Why this one, God? She’s so happy.”

“Exactly,” smiles God. “Could I give an autistic child to a mother who does not know 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 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 feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I’m going to give her has his own world and that’s not going to be easy.”

“But Lord, she seems kind of selfish.”

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 who is 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, I Love You’ , she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or 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.”