National Adoption Month

For those in the adoption community, you are probably aware of National Adoption Month. National Adoption Month was officially established in 1995 as  an extension of National Adoption Week, which was founded in 1984. The tradition of drawing a smiley face on your hand to support adoption is part of World Adoption Day, which takes place on November 9th. Some people take a selfie with the smiley face on their hand and share it on social media with the hashtag #WorldAdoptionDay. 

With the national media attention on adoption, this is a great time for you to include your family and community into your plans for adoption. Whether it is sharing your adoption story with your church or posting on social media, it can be a great opportunity to share about your heart for adoption and the logistics of adoption. There are many myths about adoption, and while you may not know the answers to every question, you can offer insight into why you feel called to adopt and how the Lord has been faithful to you so far. It can also be an opportunity to ask for prayer regarding your specific adoption journey – from perseverance in the wait to financial provision. Remember that gatekeeping your child’s story begins at the wait, so only share details that would honor your child in the future. 

If you are feeling discouraged in the waiting process of adoption, this can be a great time to look back at the stories of how the Lord has built families in the past. Take this month to tune in to what you know to be true so that your foundation is not shaken but strengthened through this adoption journey.