The Freedom To Parent Your Family Differently

What happens when the best decision for your family doesn't make sense to everyone else?

In this episode, we share the story behind a vacation decision that surprised some people: taking only our three oldest children on a family trip while our younger children stayed home. What started as a practical choice became a powerful reminder that parents have the freedom and responsibility to make decisions based on the unique needs of their own family.

Too often, parents feel pressure from culture, social media, friends, family members, and even other Christians about how they should raise their children. But many parenting decisions are not about right versus wrong. They are about wisdom, season, calling, and faithfully stewarding the children God has entrusted to you.

We discuss how foster care helped us become more confident in making unconventional decisions, why healthy families must adapt as seasons change, and how to seek God's wisdom instead of the approval of others.

If you've ever felt judged, second guessed yourself, or wondered whether you're doing enough as a parent, this conversation is for you.

In This Episode

• Why we chose to vacation with only our three oldest children

• The difference between cultural expectations and biblical wisdom

• How comparison can undermine confidence in parenting

• Why healthy families adapt as seasons change

• Practical examples of parenting differently in our own home

• How foster care shaped our perspective on family decisions

• Why every child may need a different parenting approach

• The importance of seeking wisdom instead of approval

• Learning to be comfortable being misunderstood

• Trusting God with the results of your parenting decisions

Key Takeaways

• Different does not mean wrong

• Every family has unique needs, challenges, and seasons

• Parents are called to steward the children God entrusted to them

• Not every parenting decision is a moral issue

• Comparison often leads parents away from wisdom

• Confidence grows when decisions are rooted in prayer and Scripture

• Healthy families remain flexible as circumstances change

Memorable Quotes

"Other people may not understand your parenting decisions. Other people may not agree with your parenting decisions. And guess what? They don't have to."

"We get to decide what works best for the family God has given us."

"Healthy families have to adjust with the seasons."

"Different doesn't mean wrong."

"God has entrusted your children to you. Do what's best for your children."

Scripture Referenced

1 Corinthians 12

The body of Christ has many parts, each serving a unique purpose.

Question For Reflection

What parenting decision have you been delaying because of pressure from culture, social media, friends, or family?

What might change if you sought God's wisdom before seeking everyone's approval?

Resources & Connect

Resources & Connect

Support Dream Small

If Dream Small has encouraged you and you'd like to help us continue creating content that supports foster families, adoptive families, and parents, you can support the podcast here:

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Invite Us To Speak

Jason and Whitney are available to speak at churches, foster care events, conferences, retreats, and community organizations on topics including foster care, adoption, parenting, faith, leadership, and serving right where you are.

For speaking inquiries, email: [email protected]

Connect With Us

[email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

X: @DreamSmallShow

YouTube: @dreamsmallpodcast

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little encouragement today.

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

Just when you've finally built trust with a case worker, therapist, or visit supervisor...they're gone.

If you've been in foster care for any length of time, you know the feeling. You're explaining the history all over again, rebuilding relationships, and wondering if anyone else remembers what your child has already been through.

In this episode, we share some very real frustrations from our own current foster care journey and talk honestly about the constant turnover that seems to define the system. We discuss why it happens, why it hurts so much, and some practical ways foster parents can survive the revolving door without becoming cynical.

Most importantly, we remind ourselves that while people come and go, Jesus never changes. Your consistency may be one of the greatest gifts a child ever experiences.

Whether you're a foster parent, adoptive parent, or someone who simply wants to better understand the challenges families face, we hope this conversation encourages you to keep showing up faithfully, right where you are.

In This Episode

• Why turnover is so common in foster care

• The emotional toll of constantly rebuilding relationships

• Why documentation can become one of your greatest tools

• Leading with grace while still holding people accountable

• The importance of staying child focused

• How new people can sometimes bring fresh perspective and renewed hope

• Why Christ remains our foundation when everything else changes

Scripture

Hebrews 13:8

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Resources & Ways to Connect

Support the Dream Small Podcast

If this podcast has encouraged you or helped you on your foster care or adoption journey, we'd be honored if you'd consider supporting the ministry. Your generosity helps us continue creating free, hope-filled content for foster families and those considering saying yes.

Support the show: https://dreamsmallpodcast.com/support

Invite Us to Speak

Jason and Whitney love encouraging foster families, churches, ministries, and community organizations through honest storytelling and practical encouragement rooted in faith.

If you're interested in having us speak at your church, conference, foster parent support group, or event, we'd love to connect.

Speaking inquiries: [email protected]

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Join our email community for weekly encouragement, devotionals, and updates from the Dream Small Podcast.

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Connect With Us

Website: https://dreamsmallpodcast.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

X: @dreamsmallshow

If This Episode Encouraged You

Please follow the show, leave a five star review, and share this episode with a friend or fellow foster family. Every share helps us reach more people with the hope that small, everyday faithfulness can change lives.

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

Summer is supposed to be the season of slowing down, making memories, and enjoying extra time together as a family.

But for many foster, adoptive, and biological families, summer can quickly feel overwhelming. The routines disappear. The schedules change. The snacks never end. The laundry piles up. The house is never quite clean. And somehow everyone is hungry again twenty minutes after they just ate.

In this episode, Jason and Whitney share an honest conversation about navigating summer as foster parents raising a large family. From managing camps, appointments, technology, and chores to handling emotional dysregulation, changing routines, and the unique challenges children from hard places often face, they discuss practical ways to survive the summer season while still enjoying it.

Summer can be especially challenging for children who thrive on predictability. For many foster and adoptive families, the structure provided by school creates a sense of safety and stability. When that routine suddenly disappears, children may struggle with increased anxiety, emotional outbursts, boredom, or behavioral challenges. At the same time, parents often feel pressure to create the "perfect summer" filled with activities, trips, and memorable experiences.

Jason and Whitney challenge that mindset by encouraging families to focus less on perfection and more on connection. Some of the most meaningful memories are often found in the simplest moments: family walks, backyard adventures, jumping on the trampoline in the rain, or spending uninterrupted time together.

In This Episode:

• Why summer can feel more difficult than expected for foster and adoptive families

• The importance of balancing freedom with structure

• How routines create safety and stability for children

• Why boredom can actually be healthy and productive

• Managing technology and encouraging creativity

• Practical tips for camps, appointments, transportation, and scheduling

• Pool safety reminders every parent should hear

• Setting healthy boundaries and protecting your family's peace

• Why children often remember simple moments more than expensive experiences

• How to create meaningful summer memories without exhausting yourself

Our Challenge For You This Week

Take a few minutes as a family and ask a simple question:

What do we want this summer to feel like?

Not what you want to spend. Not what you want to accomplish. Not what everyone else is posting on social media.

What memories do you want to make? What family rhythms do you want to build? What moments of connection do you want to create?

Then choose one simple step this week that moves your family in that direction.

Maybe it's a family walk. Maybe it's a backyard movie night. Maybe it's a tech-free evening. Maybe it's simply being more present with your children.

The most meaningful summers are rarely the busiest ones.

Support Dream Small

If Dream Small has encouraged you in your foster care, adoption, parenting, or faith journey, would you consider supporting the podcast? Your support helps us continue creating conversations that encourage families and shine a light on the realities of foster care.

Support the podcast at: https://www.dreamsmallpodcast.com/support

Invite Dream Small To Speak

Jason and Whitney regularly speak at churches, foster parent groups, conferences, and community events about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, and building strong families.

For speaking inquiries, contact:

[email protected]

Connect With Dream Small

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

YouTube: Dream Small Podcast

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

What Happened After We Said Yes To Foster Care

Eight years ago, we said yes to foster care.

At the time, we had no idea how much that simple decision would change our lives. We couldn't have imagined the children who would come through our home, the adoptions that would follow, the reunifications we would celebrate, or the lessons God would teach us along the way.

For our 50th episode, we're taking a step back and sharing the story behind Dream Small.

What began after the heartbreak of a miscarriage eventually led us into foster care. We talk about how we first became licensed, what it was like welcoming our very first placement, the trauma that opened our eyes to realities we had never fully understood, and the moments that shaped our family over the past eight years.

Along the way, we've welcomed 14 foster placements into our home, adopted three incredible children, experienced both heartbreak and joy, and learned that God often works through ordinary acts of obedience.

In this episode, we share the hardest parts of foster care, the beautiful moments that made it worthwhile, the importance of community, and why we continue to trust God with whatever comes next.

Whether you've been listening since the beginning or you're brand new to Dream Small, this episode is the most complete version of our story we've ever shared.

In This Episode

• How a miscarriage helped launch our foster care journey

• Why we chose foster care before adoption

• The story of our first placement and the lessons that changed us forever

• What we've learned from eight years of foster care

• The hardest realities foster families face

• The beauty of reunification, adoption, and healing

• How community carried us through difficult seasons

• Why saying yes to God changed our family forever

• The Scriptures that sustained us throughout the journey

• The story behind the name Dream Small

Key Scriptures

Galatians 6:9

Luke 16:10

2 Corinthians 4:18

Romans 12:1

Support The Podcast

Speaking Requests

If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: [email protected]

Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

Follow & Contact

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

What happens to children in the hours after they enter foster care?

Most people never think about it.

They picture courtrooms, foster homes, case workers, and placements. But before any of that happens, many children spend hours and sometimes even nights sitting in government offices, conference rooms, and cubicles waiting to learn where they will sleep, whether they will stay with siblings, and what comes next.

In this episode, we sit down with Jenni Tice, co founder and Executive Director of Lily Pad, a faith based nonprofit creating trauma informed spaces for children experiencing foster care and victims of trauma. What began as one foster family's desire to do something better has grown into dozens of transformed spaces across South Carolina with expansion now reaching other states. Lily Pad creates living room style environments inside DSS offices and law enforcement agencies so children and vulnerable individuals have “a soft place to land” during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Jenni and her husband Ben have fostered more than 40 children over fourteen years. Their own foster journey included adoption, reunification, heartbreak, and eventually meeting Ashlyn, a former foster youth whose story helped inspire the creation of Lily Pad.

During our conversation we discuss:

• Jenni and Ben’s foster care journey and how saying “yes” changed their family
• The heartbreaking moment that sparked Lily Pad’s mission
• What children actually experience while waiting in DSS offices
• Why trauma informed environments matter
• The role churches and volunteers play in maintaining Lily Pad spaces
• How Lily Pad expanded from one room to more than 40 locations
• Expansion into law enforcement spaces supporting children and victims of trauma
• The power of dignity, compassion, and creating safe spaces

This conversation is emotional, hopeful, and deeply practical. It is also a reminder that not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can help create a softer landing place for children and families in crisis.

Learn more about Lily Pad, see room transformations, donate, or volunteer here:

Website: Lily Pad Official Website

Room Gallery: Lily Pad Before & After Rooms

Instagram: @lily.pad.inc

Support The Podcast

Speaking Requests

If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: [email protected]

Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

Follow & Contact

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and in this episode we wanted to do something different.

Instead of only sharing our own thoughts, we asked foster parents what they wish everyone else understood about foster care. Their responses were honest, vulnerable, challenging, and deeply insightful.

We talked about comments foster families hear all the time:

• “I could never do foster care because I’d get too attached.”
• “They’re lucky to have you.”
• “You knew what you were signing up for.”

Most people who say these things mean well. We know that. But this episode is an invitation to see foster care from the inside and understand the realities many families live every day.

We discuss:

• why foster parents do become deeply attached
• why attachment is actually healthy and necessary
• trauma and why it changes parenting
• misconceptions around adoption and healing
• biological parents and compassion
• reunification and complicated grief
• how foster care impacts biological children too
• why foster parents need support more than praise
• practical ways anyone can help foster families

We also share stories from our own journey and highlight people in our community who have stepped in and made an incredible difference for our family.

Our hope is simple:

• More understanding.
• More compassion.
• More support.
• Because you do not have to foster to make a difference.

Support The Podcast

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Speaking Requests

If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: [email protected]

Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

Follow & Contact

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

What is it really like to be a foster care case worker?

In this powerful and emotional conversation, we sit down with former Indiana DCS case worker, foster/adoptive mom, and child advocate Moriah Coons to talk about the side of foster care most people never see.

From overwhelming caseloads and dangerous home visits to heartbreaking court decisions and emotional burnout, Moriah gives an honest look at the impossible weight many case workers carry every single day. She shares stories from the front lines of child welfare that reveal just how complicated the foster care system really is and why so many good case workers end up exhausted, overwhelmed, and misunderstood.

But this conversation is not about defending a broken system. It is about humanizing the people inside it.

Moriah also shares incredible moments of hope and redemption, including adoption stories, reunifications, and the moments that reminded her why the work mattered in the first place.

Whether you are a foster parent, adoptive parent, CASA worker, social worker, church leader, or someone simply trying to better understand foster care, this episode will challenge the way you think about the system and the people trying to hold it together.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What foster care case workers actually face behind the scenes
• Why communication can feel so difficult in foster care cases
• The emotional toll of carrying impossible decisions
• How judges, policies, and courts impact child safety decisions
• Why many foster care workers burn out
• Threats, trauma, and overwhelming caseloads
• The heartbreaking realities of neglect and domestic violence cases
• How churches and foster families can support case workers
• Stories of adoption, healing, and redemption

Some moments from this episode that will stick with us:

• “Every single time I walked up the stairs, I was terrified the baby would be dead.”
• “They’re not thriving. They’re surviving.”
• “For every one bad egg, there’s a million more trying to do the right thing.”
• “They’re just normal people trying to make a difference.”

Moriah Coons was born and raised in Texas and studied Bible, Theology, Children’s Ministry, and Special Needs Ministry at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She served as a Family Case Manager with Indiana DCS before transitioning into victim advocacy and domestic violence support work. Today, she serves as the Foster And Adoption Family Support Lead at Trader’s Point Christian Church (https://tpcc.org/fam). Moriah and her husband Austin were licensed foster parents for nearly four years and recently adopted a sibling group of three. She also serves on the Executive Board for Champions For Children, an organization focused on making Indiana children safer.

If this episode encouraged or challenged you, would you take a moment to follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone else? Those small actions truly help us continue growing this community and spreading awareness around foster care, adoption, and living faithfully right where God has placed us.

Support The Podcast

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Speaking Requests

If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: [email protected]

Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

Follow & Contact

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

Foster care was never meant to be done alone.

In this episode, we kick off Foster Care Awareness Month with a conversation that is both deeply personal and incredibly practical. After years of fostering, one thing has become clear to us: the families who last are not the strongest or the most prepared. They are the ones who are supported.

There are roughly 200,000 licensed foster homes in the United States and nearly 400,000 children in care. While that gap matters, there is another reality that often gets overlooked. Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can do something.

This episode is for anyone who has ever thought, “I want to help… I just don’t know how.”

We share real stories from our own journey. The meals that showed up at just the right time. The people who stepped in to help with childcare. The unexpected financial support. The handwritten notes that reminded us we were not alone. Even the moments where someone simply stayed present with us when things were hard.

These weren’t grand gestures. They were small, faithful acts of care that made it possible for us to keep going.

We also walk through practical ways you can support foster families in your own community. Whether you are part of a church, a friend, a neighbor, or someone who simply cares, there are tangible steps you can take starting today.

Because the truth is simple:

You don’t have to foster to change a foster child’s life.

And in many ways, the greatest need in foster care today is not just more families stepping in. It is more people willing to stand beside those who already have.

As Whitney shared in this episode, foster care is an emotional rollercoaster, and no one is meant to ride it alone. The support system around a family often determines whether they can continue saying yes.

So if you have ever wondered how to make a difference, this episode will give you clarity, direction, and encouragement to take that first step.

Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply stay.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why support systems matter more than strength in foster care
• The real reason many foster families burn out
• Simple and practical ways to support foster families
• How small acts of care create lasting impact
• Why you don’t have to foster to make a difference

Practical Ways to Support Foster Families

• Provide meals during placements or transitions
• Offer childcare or respite support
• Help with transportation for appointments and visits
• Write encouraging notes or check in consistently
• Support financially when unexpected needs arise
• Help create or prepare a child’s space in the home
• Be present during hard seasons without trying to fix everything

A Simple Challenge

Think of one foster family in your life or in your community.

This week, take one step.

Send a message. Drop off a meal. Offer to help.

It doesn’t have to be big to matter.

Small acts of faithfulness can change everything.

Support The Podcast

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Speaking Requests

If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: [email protected]

Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

Follow & Contact

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.

The Real Life of Foster Care: What People Don’t See

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and while a lot of people are familiar with the idea of foster care, far fewer understand what it actually looks like inside a home that is living it every single day. In this episode, we wanted to slow things down and offer a more honest picture of that reality, not to overwhelm you, but to help you see what is often hidden and to invite you into it in a meaningful way.

When most people think about foster care, they tend to picture the big, visible pieces. They think about court dates, caseworkers, home visits, and the system as a whole. Those things are certainly part of the experience, and they can be difficult in their own right. But what often goes unseen are the quieter moments that carry just as much weight, if not more.

It shows up in a child filling their plate at dinner and not taking a single bite. It shows up in tears late at night and questions that do not have easy answers, like “Why can’t I go back to my mommy?” These are the moments that don’t make headlines or get talked about often, but they are the ones that shape a foster family’s daily life.

There is also a layer of unpredictability that is hard to explain unless you have lived it. Schedules change at the last minute, visits get canceled or rearranged, and communication is not always as clear or timely as you would hope. In the middle of all of that, you are still trying to create stability for a child who has already experienced significant disruption. That tension can be exhausting, not just physically, but emotionally.

One of the biggest shifts foster care requires is learning to see behavior through a different lens. What might look like defiance on the surface is often rooted in fear. What looks like anger may actually be grief. Even withdrawal can be a form of protection for a child who is trying to make sense of a world that has not felt safe or consistent. There is no simple formula for responding to those moments well, which means you are often learning as you go, relying on patience, grace, and a lot of prayer.

Another important piece that we talk about in this episode is the purpose of foster care itself. Many people assume the goal is adoption, but in most cases, the goal is reunification. The hope is that families can heal and that children can safely return home. That reality creates a unique tension for foster families, because you are called to love a child deeply while also preparing your heart for the possibility that they may leave. It is a kind of love that requires both openness and surrender at the same time.

Even with all of the challenges, there is still so much beauty woven throughout the experience. There are moments that feel sacred in a way that is hard to fully describe. A child who begins to trust after weeks or months of uncertainty. A small expression of gratitude that carries far more meaning than expected. Watching your own children develop compassion and awareness in ways that would not have happened otherwise. These moments do not erase the hard, but they give it purpose.

We also spend some time challenging the idea that foster care is only for a specific group of people. While not everyone is called to open their home, we do believe that everyone is called to care in some capacity. There are many ways to step into this space, and they do not all require becoming a foster parent. In fact, some of the most impactful support comes from people who are willing to come alongside foster families and help carry the load.

If you are not sure where to begin, it can be simpler than you think. Bringing a meal to a foster family can create margin in a day that feels overwhelming. Offering to help with transportation or childcare can relieve pressure in a very tangible way. Even small acts like helping with yard work or providing groceries can communicate to a family that they are not alone. There are also opportunities to support biological families when it is safe to do so, which can play a role in preventing children from entering foster care in the first place.

As we move into this month, our encouragement is to take a step, even if it feels small. Learn more about foster care, ask questions, and look for ways to get involved. You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. Often, it is simply a willingness to say yes to what is in front of you that makes the biggest difference.

If this episode encouraged you or gave you a new perspective, we would love for you to share it with someone else. You never know how one conversation or one small action might impact a child or a family in need.

Support The Podcast

Speaking Requests

If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: [email protected]

Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

Follow & Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast
• Facebook: Dream Small Podcast
• Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons

Life Update / Conversation Setup

This week, we sit down with Josh Cortez, pastor at Westfield Friends Church and foster dad of nearly eight years. He and his wife have had over 10 kids in their home, and their story is unique because almost every placement has ended in reunification.

That perspective shapes everything about how they approach foster care.

Big Topic: Reunification and Loving Bio Parents

Josh shares why reunification is not just something they accept, but something they actively pursue.

We talk about:

• Why reunification reflects the heart of the gospel
• How foster care can be a ministry of reconciliation
• Why bio parents are often misunderstood
• The tension of wanting what is best for a child while trusting a broken system

Even when reunification is good, it is still incredibly hard.

Personal Foster Care Stories

We get into real, lived experiences:

• Kids going home and the grief that follows
• Their biological children grieving placements for days
• Moments where reunification felt too fast and out of your control
• Stories of building real relationships with biological parents

Biblical Perspective

This episode is rooted deeply in Scripture and the gospel.

Josh talks about:

• Foster care as a picture of redemption and reconciliation
• The call to die to yourself daily in following Jesus
• Living as ambassadors of reconciliation from 2 Corinthians 5
• Seeing bio parents as people made in the image of God

Practical Encouragement

If you are struggling in foster care, especially with bio parents, this episode gives real, practical wisdom:

• Resentment is normal, but you do not have to stay there
• You need community to sustain this calling
• Rest is not optional, it is necessary
• You may be the only advocate that child has
• Loving bio parents starts with surrendering your own heart

Support The Podcast

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Speaking Requests

If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at:

[email protected]

Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

Follow & Contact

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons.