If you’re looking for a pediatrician who specializes in adoptive medicine, here are a few listings.

(It should be noted that it is not imperative to find a doctor that specializes in this field. Many “regular” pediatricians have a lot of knowledge and access to resources that would make them equally qualified to care for an adopted child.)

• American Academy of Pediatrics–Pediatricians with a Special Interest in Adoption and Foster Care Medicine
• Comeunity– International Adoption Medical Clinics
• International Adoption Clinic (University of Minnesota)–listing of service providers throughout the country

Remember, just because a doctor is on a list, doesn’t mean he/she is a great doctor. Be sure to ask questions, check references or better yet, get a recommendation from someone you trust.

If you’re thinking about adopting but find the cost a bit prohibitive, check out these organizations that give grants specifically for this purpose:

• Shaohannah’s Hope
• Gift of Adoption

For domestic adoptions, check out Mercy Ministries. (I wrote another post about Mercy Ministries here.)

A couple in our church returned last week from China with their newly adopted baby girl. There must have been close to fifty people at the airport (despite it being 11 pm) to greet them and welcome their new bundle of joy home. It was extremely exciting and emotional. We have all been eagerly awaiting her arrival since last November when our friends began the adoption process.

The whole experience reminded me of James 1:27 which says,

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (NIV)

I’m struck by the significance James places on caring for the orphans and widows in this passage. It makes sense that pure and faultless religion would result from not allowing oneself to be polluted by the world, as the second part of the verse notes. How interesting, though, that of all the things James could have included in that verse, he pointed out the need for us to care for orphans and widows. Clearly it’s a situation that demands our attention.

So I’ve been pondering my role in the issue–particularly with regards to orphans. Maybe my family is supposed to adopt. Or perhaps we’re meant to financially support an organization that helps orphans. I’m sure there are many ways we can help. We can certainly pray.

In any event, it seems obvious I must do something. If for nothing else, I want my faith to be pure and faultless.