A Tribute to the Parents of Steve Jobs

I read this on a friend's Facebook status:

Her name is Joanne ............. In 1954, she was a young unmarried college
student who discovered that she was pregnant. In the 1950s, her options were
limited. She could have had an abortion - but the procedure was both
dangerous and illegal. She could have gotten married, but she wasn't ready
and didn't want to interrupt her education. Joanne opted, instead, to give
birth to the baby and put it up for adoption. And so it was that in 1955, a
California couple named Paul and Clara Jobs adopted a baby boy, born out of
wedlock, that they named Steven. We know him today.as Steve Jobs. . . . But:
imagine if that life had never happened.

I am not one to assume that what I read on the internet is true (even when it comes from well meaning friends) and generally use Snopes or PolitiFact to check things out. If you check this story out on Snopes, you find that there is even more to the story than this Facebook post tells.

I know that the person posting is wanting to emphasize choosing life over choosing abortion ... and that's a good thing. But I would also add that there are thousands upon thousands of children around the world that are waiting for parents to adopt them. Even in the case of the baby that would become Steve Jobs, the lawyer and his wife that had originally agreed to adopt this baby wanted a girl and after he was born, decided not to adopt him.  Another couple that was waiting to adopt a baby received a middle of the night call telling them that a baby boy had become unexpectedly available and asked if they were interested. That story is one of three life stories that Steve Jobs told in his 2005 address at Stanford's graduation ceremonies. You can read it here.

Today, I want to express my thanks to those that have answered the call to be adoptive parents.  My parents' best friends adopted two boys (and served as foster parents to another) that the kids in my family pretty much grew up with.  A little boy that was born in Guatemala and adopted by friends was over at our house last night.  A family in my church is preparing to go to China (next week!) to pick up their fourth adopted child and another young woman is waiting for the day when she will will be going to pick up her little boy.

After reading Steve Jobs' story, one can only imagine the things that these kids (and others like them) will do in their lifetimes.  Their adoptive parents give them more than life; they give them hope and allow them to fulfill the purpose for which God has created them.

While Steve Jobs did much in his lifetime that is deserving of great praise, I will let that praise be given by others.  I choose to praise the couple that chose to adopt him; the couple that was willing to give their all to keep a promise to a young woman that wanted more for her baby than she could give; the couple that nurtured a young creative mind and allowed him to make the world a better place.

To all of you that are called to the incredible ministry of adoption -- Thank you!

John <><

A child's answer to what is adoption: It's when the baby grows in your heart instead of your tummy!