Thanks for sharing. As you can imagine, I have a special place in my heart for those who adopt children. I’ve often wondered why it is that some people are unable to have children, whether for certain periods of time, or at all. I tend to think that it’s because God knew just what you said, that some people inevitably would give up their children, and those children need homes and families that are led and loved by the most willing and able of parents.

All parents are required to sacrifice, but those who adopt find themselves confronted with many more levels of sacrifice than are required by most. It’s a level of sacrifice and commitment not all would be willing to give, or even could give. Thus, those who cannot have their own children, except through adoption, are likely some of the Father’s most capable and chosen parents. Any way you cut it, parents who adopt, are a godsend.

I have had the honor of raising 2 kids who were abandoned by their biological parents in another country. The oldest was abandoned at birth and by the time we got her, she was 14 months old and had lived in 3 foster homes. The second was abandoned by her family at age 2 and lived in an orphanage for 6 months. As young as they were, they both have scars from those early experiences. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to be abandoned at age 11. In spite of all you have been through, you have become an amazing, awesome person! I think the Lord takes special care of abandoned children, and if they allow Him, He makes up for all the deficiencies in their lives.

Mine are both married, loving mothers, and are honest, hard working, productive members of society. I am very proud of what they have become, in spite of their rough beginnings. I feel like we were catalysts in helping them to reach their potential.

One thing we have tried to help them do is forgive their biological parents. Our oldest has no desire to meet hers. Our second one was able to visit her birth country and see how she would have lived had she stayed there. I think both of them can see that life has been better here than it would have been there, and have decided their parents did the right thing. It must have been a difficult thing for the parents, too.

I think parents who abandon their children must go through a lot of anguish and desperation before they make that decision. Most of the time, they think they are doing what’s best for their children. The step they are often missing is asking for help so their circumstances can change and they can keep those children. In their hopeless state, they often can’t see that step.

I know the Lord can heal children and parents. Perhaps, in some cases, it is not His will that they be together. I have to believe that adoption is sometimes the way those like us can become parents.

I pray that the Lord will bless all the desperate parents out there, and the children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected, and heal those deep wounds and feelings of guilt and replace them with love.