Let me start with the one who just passed away, Apple founder and CEO, Steve Jobs. While my next 2 examples were adopted when they were 9, Steve Jobs was turned over to his adoptive parents shortly after his birth. As the 1950's saw the conservative puritan American culture, Jobs's biological parents were not allowed to wed as his father who was a political science professor was a Syrian Muslim. At that time, a child outside wedlock was scorned by society so his American mother who became a speech pathologist after her graduate studies with Steve's father was forced to give him for adoption to an accountant and a machinist, Paul Jobs. Their home garage, where his adoptive dad, Paul, exposed him to tinker machines, which accordingly developed young Steve into becoming the man behind what many enjoy now - iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook, etc.
Another adopted child who turned into a great leader is Nelson Mandela. Although he grew up with his real mom and dad, who died when he was 9, his step-dad's leadership influence in the community significantly molded Mandela to become a famous charismatic leader himself.
Although there are many other adopted people who rose above their childhood background, the last but not the least in this post is Barrack Obama. With an Irish-English mother and a Kenyan father, who later died due to a disease, Obama, like Mandela, was adopted by his stepfather, who was an Indonesian. Obama's step-dad was also a leader so no wonder why he was brought up to become a leader, too.
The common denominators of all these three iconic leaders are, of course, their genes and environment. Even if they got their important traits from their biological parents, they picked up their values largely by the way they were raised by their adoptive parents especially in the case of Steve Jobs. While environment plays a vital role in the child's growth and development, if you want to have a great chance of having a potentially smart adoptive child, do a background check on the family history of your prospective child to adopt. But if you want to adopt a child without specifications, you are showing a truly unconditional parental and God's love. Many couples have done it and are happy with their adopted child. My dear friend did it and now her 2-year old adopted baby has grown to be a lovable and smart boy and he serves as a real bundle of joy to her and her husband.
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10 comments:
An extremely interesting post, NiceA! I thoroughly enjoyed your research. I did know a little about Steve Jobs and Barak Obama's adoptive backgrounds, but nothing about Nelson Mandela's.
You rightly point out that our genes and our natural gifts are passed down from our parents. However, environment most certainly does shape us too.
Not doing a background check in a potential adoption is indeed the most selfless way to show unconditonal love. I had not even considered that prospecitve adoptive parents might do so. But, in reality, I suppose many do.
Thanks for sharing this post with us at Chrysalis. I appreciate your strong support of Marriage Monday.
Blessings, e-Mom ღ
Thank you again, e-Mom, for hosting this meme I always do enjoy despite my very tight schedules. I am always blessed with all the posts at Marriage Monday that's why I put it on my top list of things to do outside my work. It took me until past midnight researching about adopted children last night.
Also thanks for leaving a very encouraging comment here. I look forward to the next MM topic. God bless.
ooh, I don't know much about Mr. Jobs (just about being the Apple chairman) and only knew it here that he's an adoptive child. Yes, very true, an adoptive child can be a great individual if molded by great parents! This is really an interesting post about the unconditional love of adoptive parents raising an adoptive child!
@nuts, yes, he was an adopted child. I admire a lot of adoptive parents who love their adopted child unconditionally.Thanks for stopping by.
Great encouraging post. Although we haven't adopted I have had the pleasure and joy of praying through many of my friend's adoptions. If the Lord had of provided for us financial in that area I am sure we would have a few adopted also...but He did give me heart for those adopting. I wouldn't be surprised if I have a couple of adopted grand children one day.
Thanks for reading my post and for commenting.
@Janette, it's good you have the heart for those adopting.
Thank you for reading my post and commenting, too. God bless.
Oh great post - I really enjoyed your research and thoughts on adoption - it can be a true blessing that is for sure! Have you adopted?
@Shelley, thank you for stopping by. No, we haven't adopted as we're blessed with wonderful kids.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I wasn't able to participate in MM this time although I had wanted to since we do not have children. So instead, I journeyed around and read everybody elses post and throughly enjoyed them x
@Shelley, thanks for coming back here. I do hope you can join us at MM next time. I'm glad you did enjoy reading MM posts.
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