Ponderings

So, years ago when I started contemplating adoption, I never put much thought into why it is so important. Honestly, up until about 4 months ago, I don't think I ever really grasped the reality of the orphan-crisis in our world. Sure,  I've always thought adoption is a huge symbol of love. Love by the mother giving up her child, love by the adopted parents accepting the child into their family, love by the people who work tirelessly in orphanages and foster care.  I knew there were children in my town and around the world needing to be adopted.  However, I usually thought about it as something just for infertile couples or those with "a special calling". In recent years, adoption has become a more popular issue to discuss. I've heard about a handful of churches with adoption programs, pastors challenging their church members to adopt, etc. But I guess now that I'm in the process, researching all of the ins and outs, reading books on adoption I'm seeing the problem in a whole new light. For my family, the issue now has a name... Mercy.
About a year ago, a dear friend of mine that has adopted several children through foster care told me that in her opinion the church is so caught up in being against abortion, we forget the countless numbers already born that need loving homes. Wow! I've thought of that statement many times in the past year. So are we really pro-life if we forget the the children living around us that are alone, living with a drug addict or prostitute, being abused, starving in an orphanage around the world? Don't misunderstand me.  I'm against abortion and the very idea of it breaks my heart, but why do we as Christians not put the same emphasis or passion into the cause of adoption and helping children in crisis.

I've been reading a book, "Adopted for Life" by Russell Moore. The book is all about his family's adoption story, the theology of adoption, and a call for the Church to take action. In the book, Moore clearly lines out the biblical support for adoption. Throughout the Bible, believers are commanded to care for the fatherless. When you really think about it, how could we not? It seems like a no-brainer. As Christians, we are to be symbols of light and love to the world... to be a shining example of what Christ has done for us. What could be a more shining symbol than taking a child into your home, loving them no matter their background, caring for all of their needs, giving them full rights and priveleges as a biological child, and teaching them about the love of their Heavenly Father, who spiritually speaking has done the same for you?

I know some of you are thinking... Melissa is on her soap box or that's great for "some" people. But seriously, what does this mean for YOU? Did you know that there are an estimated 147 million orphans in the world? Wow! It doesn't take a special calling from God to know that if you are a Christian, it's time for you to do something about it. I don't know what that may look like for you. Maybe you've always considered adoption, but never done anything about... do it, you aren't getting any younger, ha!  Maybe you've always been uncomfortable with the idea of adoption... read a book about it, listen to a sermon on the topic (may I recommend Russell Moore of David Platt, just google them), or search the bible for yourself.  In his book, Moore has an interesting discourse on why are we so hung up on passing on our genes to another. Does a child really have to your eyes, your husband's hair color, and Aunt Mary's laugh to be an accepted part of your family?  Maybe you are not in a place where you can adopt (too young, too old, single, work situation, whatever)... sponsor an orphan through one of the many wonderful organizations out there. Give money, love and free babysitting to a couple adopting.  Go on a mission trip to your local Children's home or to a remote village in Africa and rock babies, help a child with homework, and love the unloved.  Pray... for those contemplating adoption, for the Church to do more, for those caring for the orphans now, for those families stuck in the middle of an adoption that's taking years to complete, for the mothers thinking of placing their child up for adoption.

When Cody and I started on this journey to adopting Mercy, I didn't set out to become an adoption activist.  I thought God had given us the chance to help out a beautiful baby girl in need of a family from a country I've grown to love.  That was it.  But the deeper I get into this thing, the more I see a great need for a call to action.  And now that my eyes are opened to the need how can I possibly ignore it.  For my family right now, Mercy is our calling.  What's yours?