The most common question I’ve been asked is “Why is adoption so expensive?” Alan and I haven’t ever really pondered that question much but I completely understand the reason for the question. Like many things in life, if it were affordable or cheap- more people will get in on it, right?
After seeing paperwork being handled by several people and going through different steps throughout this process, it makes sense that each person doing their part needs to be paid for their work. And when I think of how many hurdles and roadblocks there are, I’ve begun to see it as ‘safety nets’ for all those children who may otherwise be easily caught in the grip of trafficking. I’ve even read stories where children were kidnapped from their homes and sold to orphanages to be adopted. One can only hope that these tough adoption processes will be enough to prevent it from happening again. I have come to believe that adoption is not for everyone but everyone plays a small part in it. : )
Recently, I have been reading up on several adoption blogs that explain the cost question with their heart- simply by drawing comparisons of how people can spend thousands for a vehicle but think the cost of giving a child a life is too extravagant.. when in reality, the child is priceless. Ouch! Luckily, I stumbled upon a blogpost that surpasses all answers and explanations to the cost of adoption…here goes… it’s by a guy named Derek Loux. He and his wife have 10 children with the majority being adopted! He was an advocate for adoption and a leader for the International House of Prayer. Sadly, he met with a fatal car accident a few years ago.
Here’s what he wrote while adopting his son, Dimitri:
“Adoption is redemption. It’s costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him. And when He redeems us, we can’t even really appreciate or comprehend it, just like Dimitri will never comprehend or fully appreciate what is about to happen to him..but..he will live in the fruit of it. As his Daddy, I will never expect him to understand all of this or even to thank me. I just want to watch him live in the benefits of my love and experience the joys of being an heir in my family. This is how our heavenly ‘Papa’ feels towards us. Today, settle your busy heart down and rest in the benefits of redemption. Enjoy the fruits of His goodness, and stop trying to ‘pay Him back’. You’ll never get close..”
