Throughout this past election, having to consider all the issues in choosing someone to vote for, I became much more aware of the the issue of abortion. As I learned more about it, I became much more sensitive towards what happens to children. Lately, as I have driven to work, I've listened to the radio and heard some of the news of the community. I have also been watching the news more often. It saddens me to hear of child abuse. In fact, if you were riding with me when I heard some of these things, you would have had to cover your ears, because I yelled, "Why?!?!" Why do people hurt children? I don't understand! It makes me angry! There are many couples out there that could and would give a child a happy home, so why are adults so selfish?
One thing that I wish politicians would back up more is adoption. Is it not a better option for everyone concerned? I agree that girls that end up pregnant too young are in a tough spot. For many, they have placed themselves into the adult world far too soon. Three options lay before them: abortion, keeping the child, and adoption. It seems that they only really focus on the first two, when the last one is the best option for all concerned.
Abortion is pure selfishness. (There are times that it is necessary, but those times are few and far between.) It is consideration only for the mother and her life, giving no consideration for the unborn child and the life it could have had. It is murder.
Keeping the child may not seem as selfish because it is a great sacrifice for the young woman to raise a child when she is a child herself. But I still call it selfishness because they have not thought of what is best for the child. In many cases, it only seems to make life harder on both the mother and the child. Yes, many great people have come from single parent homes. That is not what I am saying here. I am referring to teenage mothers. Life is hard enough.
Adoption is a win/win situation. The mother can move on with her life and make it better. She can finish school, go on to college and be able to live as a responsible independent adult. The baby also will have a better life. Placed into a home of two people that are committed to each other and to a baby that will be raised as their own. Why is this such a hard thing to consider? It seems like a no-brainer to me. Now, some will say that as I am not a mother I do not understand how hard it would be to give up the baby that has been carried for 9 months. I may not know exactly, but I can imagine. I know that there is a bond that exists between a mother and her unborn child, a bond that I hope to experience one day. I also know that pregnancy is NOT a pleasant experience. It would require a great deal of sacrifice for a young woman to deal with all of that and then turn around and give that baby away. Such a sacrifice is a miracle to witness and those women that do so, I highly respect. So, tell me, why is adoption not considered by some?
Finally, I love children so much! I have 22 such blessings that I call mine, even if they aren't really mine or even children anymore. I love them so much! I was speaking with a friend recently about this and she said offhandedly, "I think you are more ready to be a mother than to be a wife!" :) I don't know about that, but I truly love being with children and experiencing their excitement for life as well as their innocence of it. I love getting the toothy grin from my nephew when I show up at his house and his squeal of joy as I play peek-a-boo or chase him around the kitchen. I love how his older brother tries to pretend that he doesn't like my "tickle torture", even though he doesn't run away when I threaten him with it! :) I love that my nieces will come and sit on my lap and talk with me about kid stuff. Children are so SMART!
As a final note, last night I had Chinese food and with that Chinese food, I received a fortune cookie. Below is a picture of the fortune I got. I thought it very appropriate for this blog.
