November is the calm before the Christmas storm. It is the month in which snow becomes the rule rather than the exception. And more recently, it has become the month in which men who shouldn’t have mustaches grow mustaches – for a good cause of course.
However important and necessary these and other November related occasions are, I think November deserves particular mention because it is also National Adoption Awareness Month.
It is clear that one of the biggest hurdles to adoption in is a lack of awareness. Adoption in Canada is a campaign launched by LifeCanada with the purpose of addressing the issue of awareness. In a press release, project director Anastasia Bowles commented,
“I am amazed at what I read and hear about adoption. People have so many misconceptions and negative stereotypes about birthparents, adoptive parents, adoptees, and the whole process. Awareness is desperately needed, especially with respect to current adoption practices like open adoption. We need to bring the subject of modern infant domestic adoption into public consciousness in a positive, non-coercive way.”
The next step after awareness? Getting more families to think seriously about adoption.
From a Christian perspective, adoption should be instinctive because we too were adopted into God’s family. Take Galatians 4:4-7 as an example:
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
Or James 1:27 as another:
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
Scripture references like these are not hard to find because they are embedded in the story of God and the story of his people.
Adoption is not for everyone. There are many issues like costs, long waits, and confusing rules. But not all issues apply in all circumstances. What is important is to be educated and to think more openly about what God is doing in the world and how he hopes his people will join him.
So if you have never adopted or have never even thought about adoption, let this November be a time to learn more. Visit a website (CanadianAdoption.com, Canadaadopts.com, DaveThomasFoundation.ca, etc.), read stories, and hopefully ask, “why not?” November is the perfect time we start making adoption the norm rather than the exception.
However important and necessary these and other November related occasions are, I think November deserves particular mention because it is also National Adoption Awareness Month.
It is clear that one of the biggest hurdles to adoption in is a lack of awareness. Adoption in Canada is a campaign launched by LifeCanada with the purpose of addressing the issue of awareness. In a press release, project director Anastasia Bowles commented,
“I am amazed at what I read and hear about adoption. People have so many misconceptions and negative stereotypes about birthparents, adoptive parents, adoptees, and the whole process. Awareness is desperately needed, especially with respect to current adoption practices like open adoption. We need to bring the subject of modern infant domestic adoption into public consciousness in a positive, non-coercive way.”
The next step after awareness? Getting more families to think seriously about adoption.
From a Christian perspective, adoption should be instinctive because we too were adopted into God’s family. Take Galatians 4:4-7 as an example:
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
Or James 1:27 as another:
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
Scripture references like these are not hard to find because they are embedded in the story of God and the story of his people.
Adoption is not for everyone. There are many issues like costs, long waits, and confusing rules. But not all issues apply in all circumstances. What is important is to be educated and to think more openly about what God is doing in the world and how he hopes his people will join him.
So if you have never adopted or have never even thought about adoption, let this November be a time to learn more. Visit a website (CanadianAdoption.com, Canadaadopts.com, DaveThomasFoundation.ca, etc.), read stories, and hopefully ask, “why not?” November is the perfect time we start making adoption the norm rather than the exception.
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