Now here is a fact. We all need to be inspired and encouraged. Life has its difficulties and discouragements. A relationship has been broken. A marriage is falling apart. Good grades have been difficult to come by. The work isn’t going well. We all know what it is like to need encouragement.
It is amazing what we encounter in the name of science and experimentation. One of the most unusual was to determine the value of motivation and encouragement. Here is what was done. Two buckets were filled with ice water. The water was ice cold and each bucket had ice in it. Then people were chosen to stand in each of the buckets and to determine who could withstand the cold for the longest period of time. Only one difference was made for the contestants. One was encouraged by others and the other wasn’t. In each experiment, the encouraged person stayed in the bucket of ice water for the longest period of time.
The conclusion? We are inspired by the encouragement of others.
The Bible calls for us to encourage or inspire each other. Paul wrote to a group of people who lived in the Greek city of Thessalonica. This is what he said to them, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thess. 5:11 NLT
We need it and we need to do it. But what does it take to encourage and inspire someone? Let me make simple observation. We encourage and inspire others when we genuinely care for them. Here is something we must grasp: the ability to inspire others springs from the fountain of a loving heart.
You can see it over and over again. Look at a father who loves his son or daughter. He wants to inspire and encourage them to their best. It may be a recital where he sits up eagerly encouraging his daughter as she dances. Or it may be on the soccer field as he moves with his son or daughter running up and down the field shouting words of inspiration and encouragement. It is almost like there are only the two of them… the child looking longingly and the father encouraging with all his heart.
When we are concerned for others, we will seek to motivate them to their best. And love does make the difference.
A teacher once wrote: “I had a great feeling of relief when I began to understand that a youngster needs more than just subject matter. I know the subject well, and I teach well. I used to thin that was all I needed to do. Now I teach children, not a subject. I accept the fact that I can only succeed partially with some of them. When I don’t have to know all the answers, I seem to have more answers than when I tried to be the expert. The youngster who made me understand this was Eddie. I asked him one day why he thought he was doing so much better than last year. He gave meaning to my whole new orientation. “It’s because I like myself now when I’m with you,” he said.
When Eddie knew his teacher cared about him, he blossomed.
When others know we care, we can help them to blossom! Have you thought about showing your love for a child who is possibly living without the love of parents and food to stop the hunger he feels in his stomach? Consider feeding a child today and encouraging the child with your loving expression. For more information contact Feed The Children at www.feedthechildren.org.

One time while browsing around in a business, I experience something that reminded me how we view others is important. A customer was looking through one of the displays. When they finished it looked like a small tornado had passed over the display. It was in shambles. The owner was quite upset. And they commented to me, another customer, if they had seen the person doing it, they would have given the customer a good talking to. Then the owner emphatically said, “I wouldn’t worry one moment about saying something to someone like that. They never buy anything anyway!”

Selfish? Probably! But before I jump into the seat of the judge, I must remember I, too, am capable of seeing others through selfish lens.

How do I avoid that selfish tendency? One way is to accept what the Bible says about it. James, the pastor of the church in Jerusalem, advised you place yourself in jeopardy by such an attitude. How did he do it? James illustrated it by giving his readers a “for instance” situation.

He wrote: For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”–well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?

(James 2:2-4 NLT)

Why would they do such a thing? Well, some things remain the same. They did it for selfish reasons. They looked for the wealthy person to do something to help them.

That’s the picture. Then James showed the absolute practical stupidity of it. “… You have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?” (2: 6)

Then he also showed the absolute spiritual disaster of it. “For judgment without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.” (2:13).

How we treat other people does have consequences. Violation of the principles of Scripture will bring unwanted consequences! Avoid viewing people through selfish lenses, it is unwise!

One reason why many women may give up a child for adoption is that they are still very young and do not yet feel capable of properly caring for a child. The modern times have seen an increasing number of teenage girls who are falling pregnant. Many of these girls had not planned this and may have other plans for completing their schooling, college or simply are too young to care for a child. In this case adoption may be the best option for them and for their child.

Another reason why a birth mother may give up a child for adoption is that she may have personal problems with drugs and alcohol which prevent her being a good mother to her child. If in addition to having drug or alcohol problems the mother also does not have the necessary support in raising her child she may find it necessary to give her child up for adoption.

Some birth mothers are caught in an abusive situation and although they feel like they cannot escape themselves (or do not wish to) they realize that this is not the environment to raise a child and so may find comfort by giving their child up for adoption.

Rape and incest are an unfortunate reality today and when a child is born of these relationships the birth mother may find it extremely difficult to come to terms with the situation and may perceive the child as punishment and a constant reminder of the situation she would rather forget. By giving her child up for adoption she is able to provide the best for her child without constantly having to deal with a very painful past.

Birth mothers with mental illnesses may also need to give their child up for adoption. If the mother realizes that with her current mental condition she is not properly able to care for her child and does not have the needed support to help her then she may consider giving her child up for adoption.

There are a number of reasons why a birth mother may give her child up for adoption, ranging from being too young and immature to properly care for a child, to having mental problems, problems with alcohol and drugs, or struggling to forget a painful rape or incestuous relationship. In many cases giving a child up for adoption is a very painful thing for the mother and something which really needs our understanding in these matters and accepting of her decision in what she feels is best for her child.

It is a good idea to get in touch with somebody who has completed an adoption; this can include friends or colleagues. You should ask him or her a lot of questions about the whole adoption process. Ask them about their adoption agency choice and ask them why they chose the agency that they did and also ask them about the pros and cons of the agency that they went to. Go online and make some comparisons between the adoption agencies that you want to use and then narrow your list down to a few and then call them. You are looking for an adoption agency that will help you and partner with you, one that has a sense of warmth and trust and which is interested in a good outcome for you and the child.

Once you select the agency that you feel is best, ask them for an information package and fill out the application forms. Discuss the details of the application process, schedule your home evaluation study and submit the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) forms. Another thing to do is to compare the countries of the children that you want to adopt, most agencies have charts on their website that list available children, by country, gender, age, living situation (foster care, orphanage), the waiting period, parent requirements, travel requirements and adoption fees. After you review all of this, the next thing to do is to apply to the country of your choice.

The next thing to do is to prepare for the home evaluation study which is one of the most important steps in any adoption, regardless of whether it is domestic or international. The home study generally consists of three parts, multiple visits from a social worker, gathering of paperwork and attending adoption classes. Consider the age, health and gender of the child that you would like to adopt. Make your preferences clear to the adoption agency.

Choose a child from agency photos or videos. Have a pediatrician review the health status of the child before finalization. When the adoption process is complete and the child goes into your custody, you must travel to the child’s home country to pick him or her up. When you go, take somebody that you trust, for safety reasons and peace of mind.

The international adoption process is much longer and much more costly then a traditional domestic adoption, if you’re not prepared to go through what is involved with adopting a child internationally then it is best not to get involved.

The amount of agencies that are working with adoptions is higher and the need for one that has a good reputation is essential for you. The support of those around you is also needed. The patience and time will be tried. This choice will make a difference in the lives of all involved in the process.

The part of the process for you to decide if you are going to inform the child of being adopted will eventually arise. Many parents go with the truth and start out at a young age telling the child so they will be able to understand. Infant adoption

means that the responsibility is held by the parents until the right time to tell them. It is a chance to give the child a special place because of the choice that you made when you were seeking a child. You chose them. The child may choose to find their birth parents and will need you to be understanding about it. The first meeting might be a joyous one or an angry one. It makes no difference why the child was given up it will be awkward.