Saving the Children

By now you've all read the story. A group of American baptists from Idaho, went to Haiti, and tried to smuggle 33 children out of the country. The group claims that they were just trying to do the right thing, to save the children, if you will from the tragedy that is Haiti.

As an adoption lover, it is a frustrating thing to watch. Unfortunately, it is these types of situations that make international adoption the long, grueling process that it is. It is in a hope to stop illegal adoptions, where children are stolen or bought for wealthy parents, that cause the international adoption process to have so many hoops to jump through, and require so much paperwork, time, and money. This situation is the answer to the question I am so often asked, "But why does it take so long to adopt a child if there are so many children in needs of families?"

I also can't help but question the motives of these Americans, who I believe on some level really thought they were doing what was best, even if they had to break the law to, "give the children a better life." But I'm frustrated by a belief system that says that giving people a better way of life is preferable to children being raised by their parents and/or family. That one's quality of life should be measured in terms of income, shelter, and food without considering the largest factor of all, love.

I understand that people's hearts break for children that they see living in terrible situations and we should respond to that urge God places on our hearts. We should be helping the Haiti people, all of the Haiti people. Help them rebuild, help to meet their needs, help them to hear about a God who desperately loves them, help them to be able to live in a better Haiti in the future. Don't help them, by taking their children from their home, because you value physical comforts over the love of a family.

I love adoption. I think it teaches us about God and His love for us. I think it's the greatest thing ever. But it is not something that we should be trying to do for children who have families, that are able to care for them. There are enough children in this world that need to be "saved" if only from a life without a family, then to start deciding that those who live a life so different from ours, need saving.