Adoption over Abortion
“What is the most important thing in life?” It’s a question that can be asked to anyone, and it would most likely be answered with family or friends. Having a healthy, loving family relationship is an innate desire that everyone has. God created mankind to have family relationships. God as a heavenly father and Adam and Eve as the first parents are just a few examples. So why is it that when a woman has an unplanned pregnancy one of her first thoughts is to have an abortion, an option that kills a precious life and possibly prevents a struggling couple from finding joy through an adopted child? What are the benefits of birth mother giving her child to adoption and what are the danger of abortion? A woman facing an unplanned pregnancy should always choose adoption over abortion.
Of the lives Adoption largely benefits is the birth mother. Unplanned pregnancies are exactly as they sound – unplanned. She has not prepared for raising a child financially or mentally, and in most cases the pregnancy may temporarily prevent her from accomplishing much of what she had planned, like school or her career. Adoption provides her with the option of continuing school, work, etc. and still gives her the choice of life for her child. Of course, carrying the child for the full term will come with challenges but the benefits greatly outweigh the cost. Instead of struggling with the emotional damage from an abortion, adoption provides the peace of mind that her child is growing up in a safe and loving home.
In addition to the birth mother, adoption greatly benefits the adoptive parents. Many couples plan and prepare to have a family one day, and finally after waiting for the right time, many couples come to realize that they cannot have children of their own. According to data collected in the United States by the CDC in 2011 – 2013, one million married women between the ages of 15-44 were infertile, Over six million (6.9) women in the same age group had used infertility services. Many couples experience this and want children, so they turn to adoption. When a mother gives her baby away to be adopted instead of aborted she gives a couple the chance to finally become a parents and end the long struggle of infertility. Psalm 127:3 says “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” According to this verse, children are blessings from God and to a couple who could not have children of their own, finally getting to adopt a child is one of the biggest blessing they could be given.
Additionally, adoption benefits the child. Adoption allows that child to live, and even more than they will be allowed to live with loving parents in a safe home. Most adoptive parents have financial stability and will be able to provide for that child now as well as in the future. The child will have the opportunity to get a higher education, enter a career field, and become a productive member of society. The most obvious benefit to the child is life. Genesis 1:27 says “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Man was created in the image of God. And because of that we are to respect life. Mankind is set apart from the rest of God’s creation and precious. A life given through adoption instead of a life taken through abortion is an opportunity for that individual to contribute to society, bring joy to a family, and impact countless lives.
In contrast to the benefits of adoption, there are many consequences of abortion. In 2013, 664,435 legal abortions were reported to CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Abortion is far from a natural thing for the human body and mind to go through, and many complications and side effects can occur. Most minor complications can be treated but can develop into long-term problems like infertility. Another consequence of abortion are the psychological and emotional effects. These side effects may include but are not limited to depression, guilt, regret, and anxiety. These can be serious and just as harmful as the physical side effects. Marlene, a woman who went through with her abortion says, “Why did I grieve if there was nothing to grieve – after all, they said the pregnancy was still in the early stages, just tissue, didn’t they? Why did I feel so empty?… I was young, lost, and desperate to feel rooted, but for many years there was nothing but chronic emptiness.”(Testimony)
The worst consequence, however, is that through the abortion procedure a baby is killed. Taking a life is directly breaking a commandment from the Bible which is listed in Exodus 20:13 which says “Thou shalt not kill.” This is another reason to choose adoption. Mary Beth writes in her testimonial, “Now over 40 years later, I wish someone had shown me there were alternatives to abortion and that there were consequences, too. I wish I’d been asked what I wanted to do. I wish I’d known the death I would feel inside most of my life from the choices that I made.”(Testimony)
A woman facing an unplanned pregnancy should choose adoption over abortion. Adoption is not just an option, it’s an opportunity for a couple to finally have a child, a mother to continue her education or career, and a child to live. Abortion can cause physical, emotional and psychological damage and ends a precious life. These are the reasons why a women should choose adoption over abortion, and ultimately choose life.
Devotional submitted by:
Savannah Fell
Southport Baptist Church
Kenosha, WI