The Why Behind the What (Part I)

Many of you guys have been asking us why we're adopting. For the sake of ease, I'll write it out in installments. I'm sure if Todd were to write it out, it would be three sentences, but since I'm writing it, I'll make it into installments.

First and foremost Todd and I believe in pro-life. That is what we will talk about in this installment. We have heard it said by Dennis Rainey of Family Life Today (see link on the left) that if you claim to be pro-life, you should also be pro-adoption. Now, that does not mean that everyone is called to adopt, but it does mean that everyone has an obligation to somehow get involved. This is where we enter in. We felt God calling us to adopt. We feel so strongly against abortion, that we feel that we have an obligation to support the children (in our case one child in particular) of the moms who choose life.

Many times we tote the company line and say that we're pro-life without going the extra step. So what if we're pro-life? Those are just words, and when there's a woman or a girl who is pregnant and scared, does she give a rip about our opinions? No, she wants to know who will be there for her. She wants to know how she can care for this infant. She's been told she's making the "right decision," but who are we kidding? In her world, it would probably be easier - especially financially, if she were to abort the child.

If she aborted the child, then she perhaps wouldn't have to tell her parents of her pregnancy and risk disappointing them. It's possible she could avoid an abusive situation, or a neglectful situation. Maybe she wouldn't have an additional mouth to feed if she aborted the child. She can barely get by as it is, and babies are EXPENSIVE - just ask the princess who lives with us! If she does keep the baby, then she will have to find adequate day care while she holds down often numerous jobs.

Honestly, does this woman care in the least who is pro-life? Does she care that Todd and I boycott certain businesses because they donate money to Planned Parenthood? Does she care that we write letters to express our reasons for boycotting? Does she even care that we call ourselves Christians?

Todd and I just felt that we, in a sense, needed to put our money where our mouth is. We were being led by God to go the extra step. Pure and lasting religion is, in part, taking care of the orphan. We salute women and girls who have chosen life, and in order for that to mean anything to us, we felt that we needed to partner along side one such woman and adopt her child. She was gracious enough to give the child life when it would have been easier not to. We're not going to leave here there alone. We're not going to say, "Good, you made the right decision. We salute you. Way to go! Good luck with that." We're going to enter her world and accept the gift of her child that God has ordained to be a part of our lives.

Stay tuned for Installment #2.