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. “Beth Armstrong, son. Patron Saint, Matthew. Marjorie Forrest, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia. Carrie Rutledge, 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 ‘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. 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. 
Thank you for blessing us with our little miracle God! We are forever Grateful!
Congratulations on your idea being put to use. I’m so glad you were able to succeed at getting your idea in front of the right people.
My son needed to be on a heart monitor for SIDS for 11 months. His Dad left me 5 days after coming home from the hospital, so I had to manage baby, diaper bag, and heart monitor (8 lbs) on my own. I had to sell my 2 door car for a 4 door because I could not squeeze the baby and the monitor in at the same time, which would pull the sensors off his skin that monitor his heart and breathing. Maybe you could come up with something for that? BTW, my 3 pounder is now a 19 year old 200 pounder and living life to the fullest.
Wow… brings back all the memories of the NICU! I have identical twin daughters that where 2 months premature… They are 13 months old now… Everyday is a little miracle…. Im also a single mother so i understand how hard it is to carry everything! The girls where born at 4 pounds and the other 4 pounds 4 ounces… now they are over 20 and walking!!