A Plea for the Orphans

It's the day after Thanksgiving, the great shopping day. Millions of people across America braved the crowds and cold to spend billions of dollars on electronics, toys, jewelry, and other gift items. While Americans descended upon the stores by the millions, at the same time millions of others around the world were dying for lack of food, water, and medical care. War, famine, disease, and poverty have destroyed families, leaving many children as orphans while killing many other innocent children. Untold millions and millions of children are suffering right now. They are thirsty, hungry, cold, and sick. They have no home to live in. Many have no family either. They ravage through piles of garbage in hopes of finding enough food to carry them through another day. In their thirst they drink waste water which only makes them sicker. Even little children sell their bodies into prostitution in a futile effort to survive. They are used by others in the drug business, and in the process they destroy what's left of their bodies through drug abuse. The lucky ones end up in orphanages where they at least have shelter and maybe at least 2 small meals a day. Many are abused mentally, physically, and sexually within the orphanages, but it is at least better than life on the streets. They are forgotten in our world by most people. To them it seems no one cares. There seems to be no hope for these children, and yet those who still have some small spirit of life within them realize there is a hope. They have heard stories of other orphans, unwanted and unloved children just like themselves, who received a great miracle, a miracle of love - a family.

Right now millions of children around the world are wishing for just one special thing for Christmas, a family. Yet on Thanksgiving Day in America where families gathered together with loved ones to give thanks for our many blessings, few people remembered the orphans in their prayers. Those who are Christians are called to care for these precious children. Many Christians think about adopting, but unfortunately for most it's just a nice thought, not a true plan of action. It must sound nice to say, "We've thought about adopting." I certainly hear it all the time. It's usually followed by at least one or two excuses to explain the lack of follow-through. However, as an adoptive parent myself who has spent the last decade connecting with other adoptive families, I know that these excuses are most often truly excuses, not valid reasons for not adopting. The bottom line is that if you really want to adopt a child you will find a way to make it happen. Statistics indicate many, many Christians think about adopting, but only a very small percentage actually follow through. If all of the Christians who thought about adoption actually adopted just one child, there would be no orphans left. Children who are now dying would instead be home with their families, wrapped in love, safe from harm, healthy, and with a bright future. They would learn about Jesus, and they would have hope.

November is National Adoption Month. I know adoption isn't for everyone, but all Christians are called to care for these precious children (and I know many other religions teach the same). Certainly many more people could adopt, and so I urge you to pray earnestly about adoption. Don't just "think about it." Surely you have heard the phrase "Actions speak louder than words." I like to think about James 1:22 from the Bible - "Be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." Another version reads, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." In the same passage just a few verses down in James 1:27 the scripture reads, "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." Actions really do speak louder than words - don't just talk about adopting, do it! Be a doer of God's word, not just a hearer. Isaiah 1:17 says, "Defend the orphan." As mentioned before, James 1:27 tells us that part of a pure and faultless religion is to look after orphans. Does it get any clearer than this? We are not just called to look after orphans, we are COMMANDED to do so!

The Bible gives us many examples of adoption to follow. Moses was adopted by the Pharaoh's daughter after his birth mother gave him up in an attempt to save his life. Esther was adopted by her uncle after her parents died. Jesus himself was adopted and raised as Joseph's son during his life here on earth. Furthermore, the Bible says as Christians we have been adopted by our Heavenly Father. Ephesians 1:5 reads "He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will." Romans 8:15 says, "You have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!'" Indeed, the Bible not only commands us to care for orphans, it also shows us how to care for them.

Even if you do not feel you can adopt, there are many ways you can help the orphans of our world (and that includes kids here in the US). I will touch on some of those ways in later posts. However, before you dismiss adoption, pray about it. Adoption is not just for infertile people, it is for all people who care about children. It is not a last resort to having a child, it is a first choice to loving a child. It is not about finding a child for your family, it is about finding a family for each child. Adoption is about love, amazing love, and great blessings, for though many adoptive parents are told how lucky our children are to be adopted by us, when we look at our precious children we know we are the ones who have been truly blessed. Are you willing to give your love to a child in need? Are you willing to accept the indescribable blessing God has waiting for you through adoption? Are you willing to bring home your child, or will you instead say no to the child who is waiting for you? A child waits at this moment for your answer...