November is National Adoption Month. And for the next 30 days, we will be partnering with Kelli Bloomquist – who has shared with us here before – and a host of other adoptive mamas in a 30 Day Share Adoption Challenge. The goal is to help spread the word, as far and as wide as possible, about the children who wait. We will feature a post every day (in addition to our usual advocacy and contributor posts) here on No Hands But Ours about a specific facet of adoption, and it is our hope that you will consider your part in being a voice for the voiceless during this 30 day challenge…
From Kelli:
As we begin this month dedicated to children that are waiting for families, I’m deeply saddened. Advocacy boards are daily filled with hundreds of children that need someone to step out in faith. Sadly, so often, no one ever does.
Last week, a friend called to tell us of their interest in older child adoption. Hooray! I posed a question to advocates about older child adoption and within less than an hour there were more than 150 responses. That’s 150 children that immediately became top of mind to these advocates because they knew that these kids need a home before they age out. 150 children and one potential family. Those numbers are heartbreaking, and it isn’t even the tip of the iceberg.
There are 147 million children that are legal orphans worldwide. Let that sink in for a moment.
147 million children that don’t have a mother to put them to bed at night, a father to show them how to swing a hammer.
147 million children that don’t get a kiss on that painful boo-boo, or are even hugged and told “happy birthday.”
147 million children that wait for someone that may never be coming.
Many of these children are lost in the system. These children die in the system. These very children are broken in the system.
It’s time to challenge ourselves, to truly examine our hearts and set out as not just one person, but many, wanting to make a change.
So often I hear “but I have a heart for the orphan.” Having a heart for orphans just isn’t enough when there are millions of children waiting. It’s so very easy to say that you have a heart for the fatherless but yet do nothing about it. Words are just words. But what are you doing? What actions are you taking to ensure that even one child finds a loving family and receives that sought after fortress of love?
I’m a college professor and curriculum developer. This ultimately means that I live and breathe Bloom’s Taxonomy. For the layperson, this means that much of my work revolves around action verbs. Verbs that are divided into three states – knowing, feeling, doing. We all know that there is an orphan crisis taking place. We all feel sad about it. But what are we doing to change this crisis? What are you doing?
I’m not asking everyone that reads this blog post to right away go and sign on with an adoption agency. I’m not. (Secretly though, I’d really love it if everyone did.) Adoption isn’t for everyone. But realistically, it wasn’t right for every child either. The difference though is that they didn’t have a choice in the matter.
There are many things that you can do to be the hands and the feet on the ground for these children. You can step forward and adopt. You can support those who are adopting. There are so many things that a person can do. The problem, however, lies in the fact that there just aren’t enough people. There are never enough people to be those hands and feet on the ground fighting for each and every child.
Adoption is scary. It’s hard; it’s expensive, and it’s messy. It’s for all of these reasons that adoption scares many potential families away. But as many of us are aware, adoption is also redemption. It’s beautiful and it’s worth every scary moment and every bead of sweat and every single penny spent on the process.
So this month – National Adoption Month – we’re searching for a few good men and women to join the cause of the fatherless and become the hands and feet on the ground fighting for these children that are in desperate need of a loving family. But how, you might ask, are we going to find these soldiers for the orphan crisis? By doing, of course! We’re going to seek out others by doing, and we’re going to share with them about the tremendous need for potential parents to step forward for the millions of children that wait. We’re going to share with them the joys and trials of adoption, and we’re going to encourage them to consider adoption.
For the next 30 days – every day of National Adoption Month – we’re going to expand our army of child advocates and encourage families to consider adoption by doing… by sharing with them. The 30 Day Share Adoption Challenge will challenge you every day to share with someone the awesomeness of adoption and the tremendous need for families. We’ll encourage you daily to share with your friends, family, congregation, or even that random person in front of you in the coffee line. We’ll post phenomenal adoption quotes, waiting children that are in need of families now, and even include information on special needs adoption. It is then up to you to go and do!
The need is great! What will you do to lessen that need and help an orphan find their forever family? Share! Take part in the 30 Day Share Adoption Challenge!
There are 147 million orphans worldwide! They desperately need families to step forward for them. What action verb will you take for the next 30 days to ensure that one more child becomes one less?
The action verbs of each and every single person matter! Twelve hours ago, we created a Facebook page for the challenge. Within those 12 hours, we’ve had four messages from people who have stated their interest in adoption but didn’t know where to begin researching and learning more about the process. If that can happen in a matter of just 12 hours, think of what can take place during the span of 30 days multiplied by each and every participating person!
My challenge to you today – what is your action verb for the next 30 days? How will you be the hands and feet for these children? What will you do? Consider it. Prayerfully decide your action verb and then do it! Post your action verb below and tell us how you shared and the response that you received.
#30DayShareAdoptionChallenge
My action word is: TEACH
I plan to use ths month educating people about adoption. Each day, I will share adoption information on my Facebook page to help people understand adoption and become more aware of what they can DO to make a difference in the lives of these 147 million children.
Great word, Aimee – be sure to come back and let us know how the challenge is going in the next 30 days!
i would love to adopt two boys. We are hosting again at Christmas. Please pray with me that my husbands heart would be softened and he would take this leap of faith.
I have a heart for China’s orphans. Buuuut, I’m 14, and I don’t know what I can do. Adoption isn’t really an option for my family. I would love to go on a short term missions trip over the summer (and I’ve been begging them for 2 years), but my parents won’t let me since they are a wee bit overprotective. 🙂