Adoption: A Legacy of Love and Courage
Thank you to the woman anonymously sharing about her adoption as an infant. May her story be a source of encouragement and hope for any mom facing an unintended pregnancy who is not prepared to parent.
I don’t think about my birth mother every day—but when I do, I’m filled with quiet admiration. She carried me for nine months, protected and sustained me, then made the hardest decision a mother can make: she allowed another family to raise me.
That kind of love is extraordinary.
Like most U.S. adoptions before 1980, mine was closed. My adoptive parents didn’t know much about my birth mom, just some non-identifying information including her age. She was 19 when she had me. At birth, the tie between us was cut—both literally and legally. I always knew I was adopted because my parents told me from the very beginning, and they spoke of my birth mom and adoption with deep respect and gratitude.
Growing up, I felt fully loved. My adoptive parents treated me no differently than their biological child. I was never made to feel “less than” or unwanted. In fact, if I desired to, they promised to support me in trying to find my birth mom one day—and they kept that promise. My dad knocked on strangers' doors. My mom sat beside me through emotional interviews. They were secure in their love for me.
As a child, I sometimes wrote letters to my birth mom on my birthday—notes I had nowhere to send, but needed to write. As I got older, I came to understand something deeper: adoption is a powerful reflection of love—both earthly and divine. I believe I was adopted not only into an earthly family, but also into God's family.
At 18, I was frustrated by laws that kept me from finding my birth mom. I was eager to know more but unable to make a reliable connection. Decades passed and I tried again. A court-appointed intermediary found my birth mom. My mother told her that she did not want contact with me. She also told the intermediary that she became pregnant with me from rape.
In the midst of great pain and trauma, my mother protected me and chose life. And I realize that when my birth mom chose closed adoption, she also chose anonymity. That may have been her way of protecting herself—or me. Either way, I now see it as an act of selfless love.
Today, I’ve made peace with the unknowns. I don’t know my original name. I haven’t met my birth mother. But I know she loved me enough to let go—and that gift gave me a future full of love, safety, and opportunity. I have a happy life and my own children, both gifts that would not be if she had chosen abortion instead of adoption.
If you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy and feel overwhelmed, I hope you’ll consider the path of adoption. It’s not an easy choice—but it is a deeply loving one. I am living proof that adoption doesn’t mean abandonment—it means hope and life.
Considering Adoption? You're Not Alone
If you want to learn more about the adoption process or talk with someone who cares, reach out to someone by calling or texting (248) 471-5858. Compassionate support, real options, and a future filled with hope are just one conversation away.
