
Lifetime adoptive mom Carrie with her son
But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.
For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didn’t give you
The gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you.
– Author Unknown
I don’t know about you, but I love adoption quotes and poems! Adopting a baby can be hard work, and it helps to have as much support as possible along the way to keep you going. Quotes and poems are a great way to lift your spirits and feel connected to a larger community!
Years ago, when I was adopting, I would look at the list of quotes and poems I had compiled whenever we hit a snag. Instantly, the poetry would lift my mood.
“The Gift of Life” is a poem that has been circulating throughout the adoption community for years. It reminds adoptive parents and parents-to-be of what a blessing that adoption truly is. We wanted to share it with you as it’s very special to all of us at Lifetime.
The wonderful thing about adoption poetry is that it’s usually written by people just like you. What better approach than poetry to express the beautiful and complex miracle of adoption? We think that “The Gift of Life” is a lovely, romantic train of thought, well-articulated and nicely penned from inner recesses of the heart with conviction.
Feel free to keep this adoption poem nearby, saved to your phone, pinned to your wall, or kept in your pocket or pinned, for those times when you need a bit of extra support and encouragement.
Gifts Featuring This Adoption Poem
Another way to keep this famous adoption poem nearby is to purchase a piece of wall art, an ornament, or jewelry featuring it. Giving one of these items as a gift is a great way to show love and support for someone who has recently adopted!
I Didn’t Give You The Gift Of Life, Life Gave Me The Gift Of You: Adoption Gift Journal can serve as a notebook or a guestbook for an adoption party, allowing guests to write heartfelt messages on the first pages. It also makes a beautiful keepsake for documenting the adoption journey. You can transform it into a memories book by adding photos and mementos, creating a sentimental family keepsake. This makes it an ideal adoption gift for a child, family, or parent.
Each Guardian Angel & Tree of Life keychain comes with a greeting card which reads part of this adoption poem. “Love creates a family. I didn’t give you the gift of life, life gave me the gift of you,” is what it reads. The angel wings on the keychain represent divine protection, divine guidance, divine love and divine healing. The ornate tree of life represents a family growing with love.
This adoption poem metal sign comes with 16 different background color options. You’re sure to find one that matches the color scheme of her home! Every detail on this wall decor was crafted in vintage style, from the classic satin finish to the elegant folded edges.
These adoption symbol bracelets come in a modern, minimalist bangle style. Every purchase of these bracelets contributes to the Lifetime Adoption Foundation, a non-profit organization that aids women considering adoption by supplying essential items. The foundation also offers scholarships for birth mothers and adoption grants.
This stunning adoption poem Christmas ornament features an antique silver charm measuring 65mm x 50mm with the Tree Of Life Heart as a focal point. In the middle, the adoption poem “I didn’t give you the gift of life, life gave me the gift of you” is printed.
As you can see, there are plenty of gift ideas featuring this adoption poem. Any would be a wonderful gift to give to a loved one who has welcomed a new addition through adoption.
Adoption Changes Lives
Adoption is a complicated, full of love and joy but also loss and sadness. Adoption changes lives, creates families, and provides opportunities. It is many things to many people. Fortunately, many have picked up a pen to express their journey through words.
Adopted children are blessed to have two families, and two mothers who love them unconditionally. One mother sacrifices her happiness to give her child the best life she can. The other is able to see her prayers of becoming a mother come to fruition. Lifetime feels fortunate to be a part of this experience with you. It’s a miracle how two families join together to show unconditional love for a child!
Remember to lift up your child’s (or your future child’s) birth mom as you treasure this tribute to adoption.

This blog post was originally published on July 13, 2013, and has since been updated.
Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P., is nationally recognized as an expert on open adoption. A Certified Open Adoption Practitioner (C.O.A.P.), Caldwell is the founder of Lifetime Adoption Center, established in 1986. She has assisted in over 2,000 successful adoptions and was one of the first adoption professionals on the Internet.
Caldwell's life work is dedicated to educating and helping birth parents find the right adoptive parents for their child. She spreads the word about modern adoption through speaking appearances, webinars, online resources, and as a podcast show host.
She has written several award-winning books, including So I Was Thinking About Adoption, the first book of its kind. There are many reasons women choose adoption, and this short book is a comprehensive resource to make the best plan for you and your baby. Caldwell wrote So I Was Thinking About Adoption as a handy guide to the details of the adoption process.
Caldwell has made over 150 media appearances, including ABC News, CBS News, Larry King Live, CNN Headline News, NBC's The Today Show, CNN's The Campbell Brown Show, NBC News, KGO Newstalk Radio, CNN's Black in America II, MSNBC, Fox, PBS, BBC, and Dr. Laura.


