Thinking of Adoption??

Here is a post by an adoptive mom who's blog I read. This was a post that really got to me when we were contemplating the start of this process. If anyone has thought of adopting but doubts & fears took over, this is the post to read! Thanks for speaking these words Carly!

"Has the thought of adoption ever crossed your mind? Do you excuse it away quickly,with a quick "that's not something I can do?" Well, all I am asking is for you to take that little thought and explore it. It very well may be nothing more than a fleeting thought, but it might be the voice of God, pressing something upon your heart. All I can say is that it can't hurt to at least explore the option, right? There are a million reasons not to adopt. For us the reasons were: A. It's too expensive and we really don't make much money B. We really aren't amazing and didn't feel equipped to take on adoption. As we began our journey we learned that there are so many options to help fund an adoption. God provides. Period. We also learned that no one is perfect, and no time is ever perfect. I remember asking a social worker before we began, "We have two kids and the youngest is only one. Do you think that would be ok for us to adopt?" I remember her saying "Ah yea." Now I realize she was probably thinking, "What's the problem? Two kids? One year old?" We just thought for sure they would figure out that we were just a couple of dumb kids who didn't have a clue what we were doing!







Now that we have been through the process our eyes have been opened. The need is OVERWHELMING! I know it doesn't make sense. The expense, the difficult process, the waiting, but that is adoption and there is just no getting around it. The truth is there are literally millions of kids who NEED homes and they need them NOW. How many of us, if a child was dropped on our doorstep would say "no"? Reality is that the problem is THAT urgent. We just don't see it in our daily lives so its hard to believe its going on. But it is. Just check out the 800 waiting children listed on Rainbow Kids and maybe you will start to feel the urgency.






I know adoption is not for everyone, or maybe just not for you right now, but there are little ones going to bed each night with out a family to call their own. No one to tuck them in, with a promise of being there tomorrow, the next day, and until forever. I just picture Trent and Ethan alone, without us. That is who these children are. They are real. The process may stink but that is not the orphan's fault, nor does it change their situation. We constantly ask why God allows these things to go on but the Bible says that WE are his hands and feet. He has provided for these kids. Homes filled with empty bedrooms, extra food, and most of all love, which we can never run out of. That is not to say its easy or not a sacrifice. But nothing worth doing is ever easy.






So if it has ever crossed your mind, just think about it a little more. Explore it. Talk to someone who has been there. Get on the computer and research. Most importantly, pray. God won't lead you astray. If He isn't asking you to adopt, He will make that clear, but if He is, He will also provide all that you need to accomplish His will. The Bible makes it clear in James 1 that we are to care for orphans and widows, whether it be through adoption, prayer, money, or encouragement. The amazing thing about caring for others, we are fulfilled, we get the blessing.






My desire is not to guilt anyone. We are all called to different things and when God wants us to do something we have peace, not guilt, fear maybe, but peace always. Have confidence in what God has called you to even if its not adoption. I just hear so many say "We thought about adoption but...." That "but" might be valid or it might just be a lack of knowledge and information about adoption. Don't let that "but" stop you from at least checking it out. I don't think you will regret exploring, whatever conclusion you come to."