Community is a lifeline, especially when parenting gets hard. In this episode, co-host Andy Nelson gets vulnerable and shares his personal story of moving from a strong, stable community to a new city where he and his wife, Emily, felt isolated and alone.

Andy shares how this experience of being without a "safety net" forced them to intentionally build a new community and how this journey shaped their family's values. He also tells the powerful story of a season of hardship when their community stepped in to help, and how this act of being cared for redefined his understanding of what it means to both give and receive help.

Episode Highlights

• [01:30] Andy shares his background, growing up in a close-knit, loving community and family.
• [04:00] Andy's story of moving 600 miles away from home and the shock of finding himself without a community.
• [07:00] The pivotal moment when a small act of kindness helped transform their family's isolated season.
• [08:50] How Andy and Emily intentionally built a new community and how their different personalities contributed to that.
• [14:00] Why building a "deep" community is more important than having "thin" relationships.
• [21:10] The power of being a "helper" and how a season of needing help taught him to receive from others.
• [23:00] The profound impact of community on family health and well-being.

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Resources Mentioned

• Book: You Are What You Love by James K.A. Smith
• Non-profit: Promise 686