Member- FLBlonde93
- 5 years ago
Did you know that Steve Jobs was adopted as an infant?
His birth mother was unmarried, her parent’s disapproved of her boyfriend’s heritage, and the child was seen as a disgrace to the family, so he was given up for adoption. Praise God that Paul and Clara Jobs took him in, loved him, and acted as true parents who helped him overcome his weaknesses and realize his amazing potential.
Did you know that Babe Ruth’s parents decided they didn’t want him anymore at the age of seven?! They sent him and his sister to orphanages, and it was at the orphanage that a man named Brother Mattias taught him to play baseball. He’d never played before. It’s likely his own parents would have never bothered to teach him even if they had kept him.
So many amazing adults started off their lives as unwanted children. From former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and brilliant peacemaker Nelson Mandela, to performers and musicians like Faith Hill and Sarah McLachlan, many unwanted children grow up to be strong, successful, amazing adults. They were taken in by someone who loved them enough to help them learn how to fight their weaknesses and invest in their strengths.
My mother raised six kids, three of whom she did not give birth to, and people often asked her if it was hard to deal with the troubles of adopted children. My mother’s wise and honest reply was always: no harder than it is to deal with any of the struggles of my biological children. She would explain that all children have problems- some have learning disabilites, some have tempers, some can’t see, and some have anxiety or are afraid of the dark. Others have asthma, autism, or Down’s Syndrome. The truth is, she said, everyone has problems, and you don’t know what problems any child will have until you raise that child.
My mother’s wisdom holds true: whether a child arrives in a family by biological birth or through adoption, that child will have problems. All people have weakness and flaws, as well as strengths and gifts that will reveal themselves over time. This is true no matter where they come from. Raising a child is a journey that includes helping children battle their weakness and identify their strengths.
I am sharing this, because I have noticed a lot of misinformation about adoption being spread around on various boards. While adoption is certainly not for everyone, I would hate if someone considering it was frightened away by some of the negative comments and misinformation. Certain aspects of the adoption process may be tough, but the rewards are unbelievable. A lot of adopted children make their families’ lives very joyful, and grow up to be highly successful, happy individuals.
If you want to know the truth about adoption, just ask real people from real adoptive families. Talk to them directly, and don’t listen to gossip from their cousin’s neighbor’s co-worker. There are so many more success stories with happy endings than the media and public recognize. I love my adopted siblings and, God willing, plan to adopt myself one day. My best friend also loves her adopted younger sister and plans to adopt herself one day. Mr. and Mrs. Jobs also had no regrets, and neither did Steve who wrote that they “were my parents 1,000%” in his autobiography.