Over fifteen years ago when we announced we were adopting two children after already having three biological children, many people were excited for us and celebrated along with us as we prepared to expand our family. We were so thankful for their love and support!
Some people, though, were surprised and curious. Our culture focuses so much on comfort and building a life of ease, so why would we do this? Not only were some confused about why we’d want more children, they were especially interested in why we would consider adoption. Adoption came with so many unknowns and potential risks, they said. (Don’t all children, whether adopted or biological, come with unknowns and potential risks? We’re not guaranteed an easy or comfortable life as parents, regardless of the path to parenthood that we choose!)
These questions have stayed with me. They are common questions in the space of adoption. So, I thought I would give my answer. “Why adoption?” The answer for me is “Why not?”
The more we fell in love with God and the more we learned about His heart, the more we fell in love with the idea of adoption. The Bible is quite clear about how God feels about the fatherless:
"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing," Deuteronomy 10:18.
"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling," Psalm 68:5.
"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow," Isaiah 1:17.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world," James 1:27.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me,'" Matthew 25:34-40.
Of course, that doesn't even cover the fact that as Christians we’ve been adopted by Him and are now His children and heirs to His kingdom. That alone is a huge motivation to love others as He has loved us!
Okay, perhaps I started off a little smart with my response, "Why not?" but really... why not? We had a home with room for more. We had hearts with room for more. And at the time, there were approximately 140 million orphans around the world just longing for forever families. I really couldn’t even wrap my mind around that number. It was just too big, and it made me feel way too helpless.
It got a whole lot more personal when I stopped to consider there was one little child somewhere out there who was hungry and no one came to feed him. He was scared and no one comforted him. He crawled into bed at night and no one snuggled him, prayed with him, asked about his favorite part of his day, or tucked him in. He woke up wondering if today was the day that he'd find a forever family, but no one came. That made me want to cry just thinking about it.
Yes, I know that there are many great folks out there who pour their hearts and souls into making orphanages better and safer places. While they work diligently every day trying to respond to the kids' needs, even the best orphanages in the world pale in comparison to the love a child would feel in a family. A family provides safety, stability, and permanence that orphanages with transient staff members and often dozens or even hundreds of children simply could never supply.
Kids belong in families. It's really that simple. They deserve to be loved and cared for in a way that institutions never could. They deserve to know the unconditional love from and acceptance by parents. I believe they deserve to know the love of their Heavenly Father through the hands and feet of earthly parents.
These reasons prompted us to pursue adoption. At the end of the day, we are now further down this road, and our family of seven has been blessed by the gift of adoption. We’re so happy we said yes!
Learn more about True Vine, Pathway's Adoption and Foster Care Ministry, HERE.
Some people, though, were surprised and curious. Our culture focuses so much on comfort and building a life of ease, so why would we do this? Not only were some confused about why we’d want more children, they were especially interested in why we would consider adoption. Adoption came with so many unknowns and potential risks, they said. (Don’t all children, whether adopted or biological, come with unknowns and potential risks? We’re not guaranteed an easy or comfortable life as parents, regardless of the path to parenthood that we choose!)
These questions have stayed with me. They are common questions in the space of adoption. So, I thought I would give my answer. “Why adoption?” The answer for me is “Why not?”
The more we fell in love with God and the more we learned about His heart, the more we fell in love with the idea of adoption. The Bible is quite clear about how God feels about the fatherless:
"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing," Deuteronomy 10:18.
"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling," Psalm 68:5.
"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow," Isaiah 1:17.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world," James 1:27.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me,'" Matthew 25:34-40.
Of course, that doesn't even cover the fact that as Christians we’ve been adopted by Him and are now His children and heirs to His kingdom. That alone is a huge motivation to love others as He has loved us!
Okay, perhaps I started off a little smart with my response, "Why not?" but really... why not? We had a home with room for more. We had hearts with room for more. And at the time, there were approximately 140 million orphans around the world just longing for forever families. I really couldn’t even wrap my mind around that number. It was just too big, and it made me feel way too helpless.
It got a whole lot more personal when I stopped to consider there was one little child somewhere out there who was hungry and no one came to feed him. He was scared and no one comforted him. He crawled into bed at night and no one snuggled him, prayed with him, asked about his favorite part of his day, or tucked him in. He woke up wondering if today was the day that he'd find a forever family, but no one came. That made me want to cry just thinking about it.
Yes, I know that there are many great folks out there who pour their hearts and souls into making orphanages better and safer places. While they work diligently every day trying to respond to the kids' needs, even the best orphanages in the world pale in comparison to the love a child would feel in a family. A family provides safety, stability, and permanence that orphanages with transient staff members and often dozens or even hundreds of children simply could never supply.
Kids belong in families. It's really that simple. They deserve to be loved and cared for in a way that institutions never could. They deserve to know the unconditional love from and acceptance by parents. I believe they deserve to know the love of their Heavenly Father through the hands and feet of earthly parents.
These reasons prompted us to pursue adoption. At the end of the day, we are now further down this road, and our family of seven has been blessed by the gift of adoption. We’re so happy we said yes!
Learn more about True Vine, Pathway's Adoption and Foster Care Ministry, HERE.
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