First, let me make this clear. I didn’t write this poem. I came across it one day shortly after Littlebit’s birth. While mindlessly surfing the internet one day, sat by her cot in SCBU, I think my search term was something along the lines of “getting through a premature birth”.
I wished I’d written it down as I could never find it again, then I came across it again this weekend on a Facebook group. It was meant to be, as this is totally how I feel. I could have penned this myself.
I don’t know who wrote it so I can’t ask the author’s permission to republish. If anyone knows please do tell. They deserve a BIG gold star.
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 her own. She has to make her live in her world, and that’s not going to be easy.”
“But Lord, I don’t know if 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 ‘Mama’ 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.”
