To advocate or not to advocate...

One of the things I have struggled with is whether or not to advocate for orphans on my blog. The reason I'm hesitant is because I don't want people to think I'm trying to tell everyone to adopt. I am passionate about adoption, and it breaks my heart to think of the orphan all alone thinking no one cares, needing a family that could be provided if only that family stepped out in faith. I believe that adoption , while not easy by any means, is very close to God's heart. He adopted us into His family, and He commands Christians to take care of orphans. This article says it well. BUT, that does not mean every Christian is called to adopt. We are all called to do different things for the Kingdom. We are the body of Christ and we all have different roles to play.


What about the word "called?" A couple summers ago when Chad and I were first discussing the possibility of adopting, we asked for advice from a Christian mentor of Chad's (his old youth pastor who was himself in the process of adopting). We asked, "How will we know if we are called-if it's God's will that we adopt?" He told us the best advice, advice that had he not shared, we probably would not have stepped out to adopt. He said, "Adoption is a theme woven throughout the Bible. Christians are called to help the orphans. If you want to do it, and the Bible supports it, then do it!" He said we will not hear a "voice" from the sky and to not look for a "sign." The sign is there; it's called the Bible. Interesting, huh?

If you are not in a position to adopt, then what about helping to sponsor someone else's adoption? Adoption is costly. If you know someone in the process of adoption and you want to be a part of it, how about helping financially? (Financial contributions from friends and family made Ava's adoption possible.) Or how about sponsoring a specific child financially so he or she is more "adoptable?" If you go to Reece's Rainbow, an adoption ministry that facilitates the adoption of children with special needs, mainly Down Syndrome, but other needs as well, you can sponsor a waiting child. You can also view pictures of the children waiting for families.

Here is just one child from Reece's Rainbow with one of the more minor special needs, a cleft lip and palate like Ava. I showed this picture to Ava and she said, "That's me!" Is this little girl not just adorable?


























And this little pumpkin over at Reece's Rainbow, who was, by our Creator, hand-crafted with an extra chromosome, is described as happy and calm, very laid back and content by his care-takers. Don't you just want to pick him up and love on him???

























And this little guy about breaks my heart.

A family who was adopting out of his orphanage visited him and had this to say:
"...He was just the most pitiful thing. His face needed to be cleaned and I wanted to wash him off so bad! He was sitting up on his own it looked like, but he was super quiet. He was fascinated with my camera but was so pitiful and didn't have much to smile about. :( He looked like a little lover baby that needed some good cuddling. I wanted to hold him so badly. He needs a family to give him the affection he needs! "






Well, that's all for now. I guess I decided to advocate after all because these precious children need people to speak up for them. If anyone is offended, that is not my intent. If this post just gets one person even considering adoption (or considering supporting an adoption) it will be well worth it.