FAITH FILES

THE Government is set to hold an enquiry into the forced adoption of babies born to unmarried parents in years gone by.

It is a tragedy that situations that were already difficult for those involved were made worse by those who should have been caring for them.

Whatever your views on getting pregnant outside of marriage, there should have been a far better solution sought.

Even if you were to say the parents should have known better, the children are innocent victims – sometimes not even told of why their birth parents supposedly “abandoned” them.

Of course, if at all possible, the best place for a child to grow up is within a family where both father and mother have committed to staying together for the duration.

There is no replacement for the love and stability that marriage provides.

But there is no excuse for taking away what that child does have, against the wishes of all involved.

So many families are broken today, for all sorts of reasons. Whether it be divorce, bereavement, domestic abuse or something else, we need to be looking for ways of mending damaged homes.

The good news is that even in the worst situation, there can be hope. Whatever your background, your family circumstances as a child, it doesn’t mean that your whole life has to be ruined.

Well known Christian speaker and author Joyce Meyer often shares her personal story of how she was abused by her father growing up. Yet eventually she learned to forgive him, and has gone on to live a fruitful life. She has used her experiences to help others in similar situations.

So often brokenness carries down the generations – children of separated parents may be more likely to have a relationship break up themselves.

But it need not be like this. The cycle can be stopped.

God is often described as a Father in the Bible. He designed the family, and His heart breaks when families break.

Whilst your own father may or may not be a good role model, we can be adopted into God’s family.

Even the best human parents are not perfect, but God will never let you down. He wants you to be His child.

And you can never be snatched away from His loving care, if you look to Him.

Tim Gossling