Removing Children From One or Both Biological Parents

So, I have heard many different arguments for and against same-sex marriage. Twice now, I've read that a result of same-sex marriage is that children are removed from one or both of their biological parents.

Really? Wow. That sounds like children are being taken away from their very own loving married heterosexual parents and given to a homosexual couple.

UM, that is not the way ADOPTION works.

I have too many friends and family members who were unable to have children of their own. Couples who tried for years to have their own children. OR couples who were told by their doctor to stop having babies or the mother WOULD die and yet, they knew they were not finished growing their family.

These loving heterosexual married couples were able to grow their families through adoption. There are many reasons why a mother makes the heart wrenching decision to give up her baby for adoption. 60 years ago unwed women were FORCED and PRESSURED to give up their children for adoption. But that is not how it works today. In a world of "babies" having babies, teenage pregnancies, and unwed mothers can you really give the impression that children are being "removed from one or both biological parents?" In my opinion, that argument is actually against adoption. Sure, technically in adoption a child is removed from his/her biological parents but the child isn't taken away, ripped away from his/her parents' loving arms. The child is given to a loving couple in order to provide that child the best circumstances is life; a life with a mother and a father (for arguments sake, we could even say two loving parents. . . or even one, single parents can even adopt).

There are many reasons why a mother decides to give up a baby for adoption. I have not done the research, I don't know all the reasons, I could look it up, if you know the answer, you could tell me, but I really, truly believe that MOST babies given up for adoption are given up by young unwed mothers who decide that they are too young to be a mother and want to bless the life of a family who is not able to have children of their own. That is not selfish, it is a selfless sacrifice, one the adoptive family treasures forever.

So when someone says same-sex marriage is wrong because children are  removed from biological parents, I actually think they are also saying that adoption is wrong. . . and let me tell you, MANY children's lives have been blessed because they were adopted into a LOVING family.

When done correctly, adoption is a blessing.

Religion Vs Freedoms

Earlier I posted about my desire to protect my freedoms as well as the freedoms of others. In saying that, let me be clear that although I believe in protecting everyone's freedoms I also have my beliefs of what is right and what is wrong. A sin is a sin. Just because I believe others have the right to live according to the dictates of their own conscious, it does not mean I agree with their lifestyle. In matters of religion, I am firm on my beliefs of what is right and what is a sin. However in saying that, I am a firm believer in loving people, not their sins.

For example, I love my children very much. When my (almost) four year old does something wrong, I still love her. I want her to know that I love her so much, even when she is naughty. Just because I love her, that does not mean that I continue to allow her to repeat the naughty behavior. She must have a time out or whatever she needs to do to correct the behavior.

Here is another example. My one year old likes to hit. She can not be put in time out. She does not yet understand. On one hand, I want her to know that I love her no matter what. On the other hand I don't want her to grow up thinking it is okay to hit people. I don't want her to think that the naughty behavior is acceptable. So, when she does hit, I say "soft touches" and I take her hand and show her how to stroke my face gently. Then I give her a chance to show soft touches. The results are not immediate. She is still learning but eventually she will get it. In the meantime I will continue to teach.

Now, when I come across an individual who lives a different lifestyle than my own, or one that I think is a sin, I still want that person to know that I love him/her as an individual; a child of God. Due to my determination to keep my freedom or religion, I also believe others have their right to worship (or not worship) they way they feel is best for them. I am not going to tell them they are sinning or that they must repent. I am not going to try to correct their behavior. That is not my place. They are not my children. Now, if they ask me about my beliefs, that is a totally different story. I will not lie. I will not say that I believe what they are doing is not a sin.

My accepting of others and protecting the freedoms of everyone does not mean I am accepting of sin.