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Key Takeaways:
What begins as an unexpected phone call can sometimes become part of a much bigger story. In this episode, Jaci Burgess shares her family’s journey of fostering and eventually adopting a little girl born with only half a heart. Through seasons of uncertainty, hospital stays, and ultimately a heart transplant, Jaci reflects on the ways God sustained her family and shaped her understanding of care, healing, and trust.
The conversation also dives into the intersection of faith and mental health. Jaci shares what she’s learned as both a therapist and a foster mom, offering wisdom on attachment, burnout, emotional readiness, and the role supportive relationships play in helping children heal. Together, Austin, Callie, and Jaci discuss why pastors and therapists are better together and how the Church can create healthier communities of care for vulnerable children and families.
Time Stamps:
3:58 | The Phone Call That Led to Foster Care, a Heart Transplant, and Adoption
7:29 | What It Means to Live Distinctly Through Foster Care
10:02 | Why Faith and Trauma-Informed Care Belong Together
14:19 | The Power of Secure Attachment and Unconditional Love
20:44 | How Foster Parents Can Assess Their Readiness
24:16 | Recognizing Burnout and Knowing When to Take a Pause
32:02 | Why Pastors and Therapists Need Each Other
Reflection Questions:
- Have you ever sensed God leading you into something that felt bigger than you were prepared for? How did you respond?
- Jaci shares that foster care often reveals wounds we may not realize we still carry. How have difficult seasons exposed areas where God still wanted to do work in your life?
- Jaci describes recognizing burnout before reaching a breaking point. What signs tell you that it’s time to slow down, seek support, or make space for rest?
Links:
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