The Saturday before Thanksgiving has been designated as National Adoption Day. It’s a day to acknowledge those who have been adopted, their adoptive families, or those going through the tedious process of adoption. Just consider where things are in our own nation.
“Of the more than 440,000 children in foster care in the United States, there are over 123,000 kids available for adoption right now. According to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, children in foster care can expect to wait an average of three years to be adopted and the average age of a foster care child is 8.5 years old.”1
“More than 23,000 children will age out of the U.S. foster care system every year. After reaching the age of 18, 20 percent of the children who were in foster care will become instantly homeless. Fifty percent of former foster youth who age out of the system will be unemployed by the age of 24. There is less than a three percent chance for children who have aged out of foster care to earn a college degree at any point in their life.
“Seventy percent of girls who age out of the foster care system will become pregnant before the age of 21. At least 25 percent of children who age out of the foster care system still suffer from the direct effects of PTSD. Sixty percent of young men who age out of the foster care system and are legally emancipated have been convicted of a crime. About one in four kids who age out of the system will not graduate from high school
“Only five percent of women and 33 percent of men receive government benefits to meet basic needs after they age out of the system. Fifty percent of kids who age out of the system will develop substance dependence. Children with a diagnosed disability of any kind, including a learning disability, are twice as likely to age out of the foster care system. Kids who enter the foster care system after the age of 12 have a 40 percent chance of being legally emancipated at the age of 18 from the system.”2
Can you understand why there is a national day of recognition for adoption? Not only the
adopted need encouraged but so do the ones who did the adopting. We are cheering on the grueling task of adjustment, letting each side know that there is support and help available. Most who adopt a child never anticipate that some children will still be adjusting even into their adult years to floods of memories and emotions that come as a wave.
As Christians, we know that one of the words used in Scripture to describe us is “adopted.” Ephesians 1:3-6 declares, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
The process of adoption for American couples is tedious – and expensive! On average, the adoption process takes about one year to complete. As for the cost, “The most affordable way to adopt a child is through the U.S. foster care system. On average, it costs under $2,800 to adopt a child from foster care.
“Independent adoption through an attorney costs between $25,000 and $45,000. These estimates include fees for home study, the birth mother’s medical bills and legal and court fees for all of the parties involved.
“Adopting through a private agency is the most convenient way to adopt, as the organization oversees the process from start to finish and includes additional services like counseling. However, it’s also the most expensive way to adopt as it can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000, depending on the agency.”3
The cost for my adoption into the family of God was the blood of Jesus. He had to die so that I could be adopted.
When a parent goes to an adoption agency to choose the child they want to adopt, they have no clue what the future is going to bring. They adopt with a hopeful ignorance, believing they can make a difference.
When God adopts us, it was according to His foreknowledge. (Romans 8:29) God knew everyone who would, of their own free will, accept Him as Savior, calling upon His name to be saved. However, God did it with omniscient knowledge. He knew which of His children would be compliant and easily moldable. He knew which ones would be the problem children. And He knew the ones who would be flat out rebellious, requiring much discipline.
Knowing all that, He still adopted us. Now that is worth celebrating today!
Ponder the truth of this today as well as what we read in Galatians 4:4-7. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
1https://adoption.com/kids-available-for-adoption
2https://adoption.com/the-danger-of-foster-children-aging-out-of-the-system
3https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/affording-adoption-cost/
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