Part 1 of 4
If you’re considering adopting an older child with physical challenges, you should read Adoption as a Ministry, Adoption as a Blessing, by Michelle Gardner. In 1994, Michelle and Steve Gardner thought they had the perfect family; they had two biological sons, ages 10 and 8, and a daughter, 5. The family lived in Taiwan, where Michelle and Steve taught in a school for missionary kids and helped in a Chinese church.
The book recounts their decision to adopt a 5-year-old girl from China with cleft lip and palate; a 4-year-old girl from Russia with limb deficiencies; and a 9-year-old boy from India who was nearly blind.
The author intersperses her narrative of her family’s intriguing adoption stories with reflections from her adopted children and from her biological children. She also includes an overview of what the Bible says about ministering to children who don’t have anyone to permanently care for them.
“Clearly it is every believer’s responsibility to care for orphans, not just a select few,” Gardner writes. Some of those ways might include sending blankets to orphaned children; volunteering as a children’s court advocate; fostering or adopting children.
Gardner explains that people shouldn’t enter adoption and foster care lightly, but only after earnestly seeking the Lord’s direction.
“The attitude with which a family approaches adoption is critical. No one, least of all a vulnerable child, wants to feel like he is being rescued. A family needs to be sure they aren’t acting out of pity. However, to act our of kindness and love and the desire to share their abundant blessings with a child is certainly a proper motive.”
The book includes not only Michelle and Steve Gardner’s reflections about the adoption of three of their children, but is peppered with strong encouragement for churches to love and support adoptive families. The last chapter describes Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries, a non-profit corporation that the Gardners founded to encourage Christians to embrace adoption and support adoptive families.
The next posts in this series will take a closer look at some of the topics Michelle Gardner introduces:
Part 2: The reluctant spouse
Part 3: What to say when people ask why you’re adopting internationally
Part 4: How the Church Can Change Its Attitude Toward Adoption
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