Is Adoption Really an Option? w/ Tom and Debbie Velie

Per the recording of this episode Roe v. Wade was overturned over a month ago, sparing the lives of many unborn babies. This was a moment of celebration for a lot of us because it meant that babies had a fighting chance at life again. While that is true, this decision also brought about mourning for other Americans. The question then could be asked, “why would there be mourning over unborn babies having a chance at life?”. We’ve seen the memes from both sides posting divisive and insulting things about the other side of this issue such as quote “Imagine being upset about not murdering babies” and quote “Imagine taking rights away from women.” This kind of language is not productive for unity and is not loving our neighbor well as the church is instructed to do alongside following the statutes and principles of the Gospel. I’ve quoted this in multiple episodes and I’ll quote it here. Teddy Roosevelt said “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. 

When we actually listen and pay attention to the posts, stories, and rhetoric that is from our fellow Americans on the other side of this issue, they’re not upset about fewer “dead babies”, they’re upset, as far as I can tell, about the absence of options and choice, not to mention the perceived rights being taken away by the government. There’s an agenda that has been pushed by politicians and media that abortion is the only option for an unwanted pregnancy because adoption is everything that is portrayed in Lemony Snickett’s and Charles Dickens’ novels. These images of adoption depict a godless machine that drains the soul of a child and reminds said child about how unwanted they are. This is not an accurate depiction of adoption by the longest stretch of the imagination.

In today's conversation my wife, Alyssa, and I discuss the adoption option with Tom and Debbie Velie. Tom has been serving as President of New Beginnings since 2002. He earned a Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Mississippi and then a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Southern Mississippi. Tom served as a Master Trainer through the National Council for Adoption’s Infant Adoption Awareness training program, as an adoption agency accreditation evaluator for the Council on Accreditation, and is a member of the National Council for Adoption Hall of Fame. Debbie has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and has been at New Beginnings for 27 years, since the founding of the agency.  She chose a career in social work because of the blessing adoption has been in their lives. Tom and Debbie have two daughters adopted internationally. Their daughters are now grown, married and each have two beautiful children. They love and believe in the beauty of adoption, and it has touched their life in so many ways. In looking back on 27 years of adoption work, it would be impossible for them to pick a most memorable event, but they say the reward has been in working with many courageous birth moms, their beautiful babies and the wonderful adoptive parents.

Connect with New Beginnings at:
Website: newbeginningsadoptions.org
Facebook: New Beginnings International Children's and Family Services
Instagram: @newbeginningsadoptions

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