This morning I woke up and had "adoption" on my heart. I saw a special on television the other night about a little girl named Anna May who was adopted from China when she was two years old. Evidently, the biological parents (who have other children) only wanted her placed temporarily (for what reason I don't know) and she ended up being adopted out of the country by a Christian American family. The American family is the only family that she really knew her whole life. Now eight years old, her biological family came to America to fight in the courts in hope of regaining custody of their daughter. Several months ago, the biological family was awarded custody of Anna May. Of course, the adoptive family is devastated and can't imagine life without her. They had a daughter close in age to Anna May and they were best friends. Recently, the biological parents announced that when their visas ran out, they would be taking Anna May back to China to live permanently.
Whew, it sounds like a nightmare doesn't it? I really feel for both families. They both love her and I can fully understand the desire of both families to raise her. I have been praying for this little girl a lot and focusing on several issues. Even though she is biologically Chinese, her ways are American. She will have to in a sense adopt a new language, a new family, a new religion, a new culture, a new way of life...and one that is so different than living in America. There are plenty of people fighting to get into this country, but I don't know of too many who fight to leave. The television story talked about how she battled with depression and was withdrawn. Well, DUH! Like I said, I really feel for this girl.
I don't understand God's ways, but I believe He must have a reason for allowing this circumstance. Maybe God is raising her up for a special purpose. Maybe she is a modern day Joseph in a sense; ending up in a foreign land only to bring the blessings of the Lord there! (Of course, I realize though that China is her native land).
Speaking about adoption, I frequently pray for adoptive parents and those mothers faced with the difficult decision of adoption. Adoption is a blessing. I thank God for the Crisis Pregnancy Care Centers across the country and for the volunteers I know who work at them. I have been privileged to witness first hand several families who have either placed their children or adopted children. I have also witnessed the pain and sorrow women go through when adopting their babies out- realizing that they are making the hardest decision of their lives. Thankfully, we serve a God who heals the brokenhearted. He brings us out of the darkness and into His marvelous light. He is also a God who understands. He gave up His one and only Son to become a ransom for a sinful world. What love!
The other end of the spectrum is the fear that adopting parents have. Stories like the one I mentioned a moment ago are a good reason why. Many people choose to adopt outside of the country in part because there are so many children in need and foreign adoptions aren't too likely to be reversed. American parents tend to worry that the biological parent will still see themselves as "Mom" and they want their son or daughter to think of them as "Mom" and "Dad". They fail to respect the sacrifice that the biological parent has made in order for them to have a child. The very thing that they fear (losing the child) is THE very thing the biological parent WENT THROUGH so that they could be parents.
Of course, I support open adoptions whenever possible; one where the biological parent can be at the very least a witness to the upbringing of her child. There are varying degrees of contact in an open adoption, but my opinion is that there are more benefits for all involved as opposed to any "risks". This is very healing to both the biological parent(s) and the child in the long run, who will one day ask where he/she came from!
And here's a final thought on children - no one "owns" a child as if he/she is our possession. Even those of us who have biological children are not owners, we are "caretakers" and "overseers" of their upbringing. Isn't that the very definition of a parent, anyway?
Can you name some of the great men or women of the Bible that were adopted?
How about Moses, taken in by Pharaoh's daughter after finding him floating in a basket in the river? He ended up leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. Samuel's mother, Hannah, prayed for a son and then promised to give him over the priest (Eli) to raise (adopt). God granted her request. She came to see him once a year at the temple. One more. The girl who grew to be queen and saved her people from destruction. Yes, Esther. She was adopted by her father's brother, Mordecai!
In a sense, we are all "adopted". The Lord adopts us and calls us His own. He gives us privileges and rights that only a son or daughter would have. Here are some verses to think about:
"God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." Psalm 68:6 (NIV)Whew, it sounds like a nightmare doesn't it? I really feel for both families. They both love her and I can fully understand the desire of both families to raise her. I have been praying for this little girl a lot and focusing on several issues. Even though she is biologically Chinese, her ways are American. She will have to in a sense adopt a new language, a new family, a new religion, a new culture, a new way of life...and one that is so different than living in America. There are plenty of people fighting to get into this country, but I don't know of too many who fight to leave. The television story talked about how she battled with depression and was withdrawn. Well, DUH! Like I said, I really feel for this girl.
I don't understand God's ways, but I believe He must have a reason for allowing this circumstance. Maybe God is raising her up for a special purpose. Maybe she is a modern day Joseph in a sense; ending up in a foreign land only to bring the blessings of the Lord there! (Of course, I realize though that China is her native land).
Speaking about adoption, I frequently pray for adoptive parents and those mothers faced with the difficult decision of adoption. Adoption is a blessing. I thank God for the Crisis Pregnancy Care Centers across the country and for the volunteers I know who work at them. I have been privileged to witness first hand several families who have either placed their children or adopted children. I have also witnessed the pain and sorrow women go through when adopting their babies out- realizing that they are making the hardest decision of their lives. Thankfully, we serve a God who heals the brokenhearted. He brings us out of the darkness and into His marvelous light. He is also a God who understands. He gave up His one and only Son to become a ransom for a sinful world. What love!
The other end of the spectrum is the fear that adopting parents have. Stories like the one I mentioned a moment ago are a good reason why. Many people choose to adopt outside of the country in part because there are so many children in need and foreign adoptions aren't too likely to be reversed. American parents tend to worry that the biological parent will still see themselves as "Mom" and they want their son or daughter to think of them as "Mom" and "Dad". They fail to respect the sacrifice that the biological parent has made in order for them to have a child. The very thing that they fear (losing the child) is THE very thing the biological parent WENT THROUGH so that they could be parents.
Of course, I support open adoptions whenever possible; one where the biological parent can be at the very least a witness to the upbringing of her child. There are varying degrees of contact in an open adoption, but my opinion is that there are more benefits for all involved as opposed to any "risks". This is very healing to both the biological parent(s) and the child in the long run, who will one day ask where he/she came from!
And here's a final thought on children - no one "owns" a child as if he/she is our possession. Even those of us who have biological children are not owners, we are "caretakers" and "overseers" of their upbringing. Isn't that the very definition of a parent, anyway?
Can you name some of the great men or women of the Bible that were adopted?
How about Moses, taken in by Pharaoh's daughter after finding him floating in a basket in the river? He ended up leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. Samuel's mother, Hannah, prayed for a son and then promised to give him over the priest (Eli) to raise (adopt). God granted her request. She came to see him once a year at the temple. One more. The girl who grew to be queen and saved her people from destruction. Yes, Esther. She was adopted by her father's brother, Mordecai!
In a sense, we are all "adopted". The Lord adopts us and calls us His own. He gives us privileges and rights that only a son or daughter would have. Here are some verses to think about:
"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure."
Ephesians 1:5 (NIV)
"And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us."
Romans 8:23
The little girl in this video reminds me of Anna May. If you think of her today, please pray for her. SCC's link is available at the end if you are interested in information on his site about adoption.
Please check my website links for further information about Crisis Pregnancy Links as well as other helpful information.
