Rhythms For Foster and Adoptive Parents

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The hardest part of foster and adoptive parenting isn’t always the paperwork or the appointments- it’s trying to care for everyone while running on fumes. We open up about a season of nonstop schedules, takeout dinners, and too much caffeine, and then step back to ask a bigger question: what if wellness isn’t found in doing more, but in returning to God’s rhythms of life? From Scripture’s picture of day and night, sowing and harvest, and Sabbath rest, we build a framework that helps weary caregivers move from survival to steady.

We break down five “kingdom rhythms” that change both mindset and body: fasting and feasting, work and rest, pouring out and being poured into, serving and being served, loving and being loved. You’ll hear how gentle intermittent fasting (like a 12-12 window) supports hormones and digestion only when paired with real nourishment, why stress-heavy seasons call for wisdom before adding spiritual or dietary fasts, and how protein, fiber, and regular meals can calm a dysregulated nervous system. We talk practical movement- why walking regulates emotions, how strength training builds resilience that transfers into parenting—and why recovery is not optional if you want strength that lasts.

Community threads through everything. We share how solitude with God, a discipleship group that speaks truth, and a church family that shows up with meals and prayer keep hearts soft and steady. You’ll find honest encouragement to receive help without guilt, model dependence in front of your kids, and keep showing up for worship even when it’s messy. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s choosing one rhythm to start—cook a nourishing dinner, take a ten-minute walk, schedule a Sabbath hour, or text a friend for prayer—and letting God set the pace as capacity returns.

If this conversation strengthens you, subscribe, share it with another foster or adoptive parent who needs a hopeful reset, and leave a review so more families can find this space. What rhythm will you start this week?

Connect with me on Instagram:
@nicoletbarlow https://www.instagram.com/nicoletbarlow/
Website: https://nicoletbarlow.com/

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:09):
Welcome to the Foster Parent Well Podcast,
where we have real, candid,faith-filled conversations about
all things foster care,adoption, and trauma.
I'm your host, Nicole T.
Barlow.
I'm a certified parent trainer,a certified health coach, and an
adaptive parent myself.
This is a space where you canfind support so that you can

(00:29):
care for your kids with asteadfast faith, endurance, and
joy.
I want you to foster parentwell.
So let's jump in.

(01:16):
And that alone is a challenge,right?
But they're also in drama andplaying basketball, which means
we've basically moved our lifeto the other side of town.
And because we're not busyenough, we're also preparing to
put our house on the market sothat we can move closer to the
area where they're in school,which y'all, if you've ever sold

(01:37):
a house with kids, like youknow, that's a full-time job by
itself.
So yeah, between all of that,we've been eating out a lot.
Um, and I haven't been workwalking or working out like I
normally do.
And honestly, like I'm runningalmost entirely on Starbucks at

(01:58):
this point.
And spoiler alert, y'all, it'snot working.
Um, I really can tell adifference.
I I can see that I'm moreirritable.
Um, I've put on some weight, um,I'm getting sick more often, and
it's all really catching up tome.
So today's episode is one thatmy own body and spirit are

(02:20):
craving.
It's all about creating healthyrhythms, even in seasons of
chaos.
Because as foster and adoptiveparents, our lives are full of
extremes, y'all.
We're constantly pouring outgiving, serving, fixing, showing
up.
Um, but wellness really doesn'thappen in the hustle, it happens

(02:41):
in rhythm.
So it's that steady back andforth between giving and
receiving, between work andrest, between fasting and
feasting.
And you guys, I know in thisseason those rhythms are off.
Um, so in Ecclesiastes, um,Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, there is

(03:04):
a time for everything and aseason for every activity under
the heavens.
I love that verse because itreminds me that God built rhythm
into creation itself.
Think about day and night, seedtime and harvest, work and
sabbath.
Even our heartbeat, y'all, is arhythm.

(03:25):
It's a steady pulse ofcontraction and rest.
So when we live out of thatrhythm, outside of it, when
we're always on and alwaysgiving, or in my case, always in
the car, um, our souls and ourbodies start to show it.
So today I want to walk througha few of these rhythms together.

(03:46):
Fast and feast, work and rest,pour out and be poured into,
serve and be served, love and beloved.
Y'all, these are kingdomrhythms, not self-help
strategies, but really divinedesigns that help us to live
well and to love well.
The first one that we're gonnatalk about, rhythm number one,

(04:07):
is fasting and feasting and thatbalance.
So we can't live in a state ofconstant restriction, but we
also can't live in a state ofconstant indulgence.
And that's for us spirituallyand physically.
Um, it's funny, isn't it, thatwhen we are the most depleted.

(04:29):
So, like in our situation rightnow where I am drained, like
completely drained at the end ofevery day, um, we often swing
towards indulgence at the sametime.
And and I do that for my owncomfort.
I've really seen that in myselflately when I'm exhausted and
when I'm running on fumes, Igrab another coffee or I catch

(04:53):
myself scrolling too long on myphone.
Or at the end of the night, um,you know, I might not have had
anything but a latte and somegoldfish all day long.
And then at the end of thenight, instead of really
nourishing my body, I amreaching for things like um
cookies or a piece of chocolateor something like that that is

(05:17):
indulgent.
And y'all, sometimes it's notone piece of chocolate.
It's like a lot of pieces ofchocolate.
Or in the in the case ofHalloween, you know, we had
candy around for a few days, andthat was not good for me because
I was indulging in thatconstantly.
And um, it's not it's nothelpful.

(05:38):
It's not balance, it's survivalon one end, but it's not even
really helping me survive well.
A few years ago, um, I reached areally unhealthy place
physically, and it began toaffect everything my mental
health, my spiritual health,even my parenting.
Um, if you've listened listenedto previous episodes, I've

(06:01):
talked about this before, abouthow unhealthy I was.
And it's because I had gotten inthis habit, gotten in this
pattern of kind of going theindulgent feasting route on a
regular basis.
Um, and y'all, I don't want togo back there.
I don't.
Um, I can feel myself reallydrifting from my healthy habits

(06:26):
into those, you know, kind ofsabotage type habits.
And I don't want to be there.
When we're not caring for ourphysical health, it's so much
harder to be attentive to ourkids' needs, especially our kids
who have experienced trauma,because they really rely on our
regulation to find theirregulation.

(06:48):
And we can't be regulated if ourbodies aren't getting the things
that it needs.
Just like our kids can go intofight, flight, or freeze because
they're not getting thenourishment or the things that
their bodies need, ours can too.
So our wellness really impactstheir healing.
So, I mean, here's kind of thechallenge for us in that is I

(07:12):
know, you know, we can swingreally far one way or the other.
We can often feel like guiltyfor joy and celebration and that
feasting, but we do need thosemoments.
It's good.
The Bible talks about theimportance of the feasts, right?
Um, we just have to make surethey're intentional and

(07:34):
life-giving, not just mindlesscoping or comfort in the moment.
Um, so maybe that looks like abig family dinner, you know,
where everybody's laughing andslowing down and spending time
together.
Or maybe it's like a worshipnight with friends, and, you
know, that's really filling oursoul.
Those things are true feasting.

(07:57):
Um, but then we also need totalk about fasting.
And I don't just meanintermittent fasting, although
we are gonna talk about that,but I'm also talking about a
kind of spiritual fasting thatwe see throughout scripture.
Those intentional pauses wherewe say, Lord, I need you more
than I need anything else.

(08:18):
Those moments matter too.
So intermittent fasting, if youaren't familiar with it, um,
especially something gentle likea 12-12 rhythm, can be such a
gift to our bodies.
It gives our digestion a break.
It also helps to regulate bloodsugar and support hormone
balance.
And honestly, it just kind ofgives our bodies a chance to

(08:40):
breathe.
And you know this, I'm alwaysgonna tell you that you must eat
consistently during your eatingwindow.
My latte and a handful ofgoldfish isn't doing it, right?
Like I really need to prepare mybody for those 12 hours where
I'm gonna be fasting.
So, so you know, really lookingat things and making sure that

(09:04):
I'm eating on a regular basis,just like we tell our kids.
Like our kids need to eat everytwo to three hours to keep their
body regulated.
Well, in our eating we window,we also need to be feeding or
nourishing our bodies every twoto three hours.
Um, making sure that we'rethinking about protein, that
we're thinking about fiber as wedo that.

(09:26):
Um, we really want to nourishour nervous system so it doesn't
slip into panic mode, which canhappen really easily if um, you
know, if you're not eating oryou're kind of haphazard about
how you do that.
Um, these rhythms really helpyour body to feel safe again

(09:46):
when your body knows when it'sgonna get food.
But then there's a spiritualfasting.
And this is the kind that turnsdown like the noise of the world
so that we can hear the whisperof God.
Scripture is full of momentswhere God's people fasted to
seek direction, to seek um, youknow, to pray, to grieve, to

(10:08):
prepare, or simply really justto draw close to him.
One of my favorite verses isJoel 2.12, where God says,
return to me with your with allyour heart, with fasting and
weeping and mourning.
Y'all, it's not just aboutdeprivation, it's about
devotion.
It's about creating space toreturn to our first love.

(10:30):
Um, now here's the part we don'ttalk about enough.
Not every season is a season forextended fasting.
Because fasting, bothintermittent and spiritual,
creates stress on the bodies,um, on the body by design.
It's it's called a controlledstressor.
So it's healthy and it'spurposeful, but it's still a

(10:50):
stressor.
So when you're already in aseason of survival mode, when
the court dates are back toback, when your kids' behaviors
are all over the place, whenyou're not getting any sleep,
when you're getting sick, all ofthose things matter.
It's probably your cortisol isprobably sky high.
Um, and and you need to reallythink about adding another

(11:14):
stressor, even one like fastingthat can be so good both for our
body and our spirit.
Um, but it can actually workagainst your body if you're not
being intentional about when andhow you do that.
Um, and your body matters toGod, you guys.
Your nervous system matters toGod.
He is not honored by you pushingyourself into the ground in his

(11:39):
name.
We see Jesus going away to rest.
We see Jesus taking momentsreally to um to take care of
himself and to take care ofothers and their bodies.
So, yes, intermittent fastingcan be a beautiful rhythm for
health.
And yes, spiritual fasting canbe one of the most intimate ways

(12:02):
to draw near to Jesus.
But wisdom says we honor theseason we're in.
Sometimes the most faithfulthing that you can do is nourish
your body so that you can hearfrom God clearly.
And sometimes the most spiritualthing you can do is rest because
your body is already crying outfor relief.
And y'all always, when we talkabout fasting, consult your

(12:24):
doctor first to make sure it'ssafe for you.
I'm not a medical professional,and this is not medical advice.
I'm just simply talking aboutthe practices that the Bible
talks about as a spiritualdiscipline as we walk out our
faith.
Um, okay, let's talk about oursecond rhythm, which is uh the
balance between work and workingout and rest.

(12:47):
So we're talking about rhythmsthat bring our bodies back to
life.
Movement has to be part of theconversation.
It's not a punishment, it's notkind of an earn your food kind
of thing, y'all.
I am not about that.
I'm talking about the kind ofmovement that supports your
nervous system, clears yourmind, and helps you show up with
a little more strength for thoselittle people in your home that

(13:11):
need you.
Uh, walking is one of the mostunderrated gifts that we have.
You guys, I love it.
It has for the past couple ofyears been my non-negotiable
until the season that I'm inright now where every
non-negotiable has becomenegotiable.
And I've got to figure out howto fit it all in.
Um, but it helps lower cortisol,it helps regulate our emotions,

(13:34):
it boosts our mood, it supportsdigestion, and it just gives us
a moment to breathe.
Um, if you can get outside insunshine, that is even better.
There's something about thefeeling of air on your face and
the ground under your feet thatreally reminds your body you're
safe, you're here, you're okay.

(13:57):
Um, and then the other thingwhen we talk about movement that
I always talk about is strengthtraining.
Um, foster and adoptive parents,you guys, we carry a lot.
We carry a lot emotionally,mentally, spiritually.
Strength training literallyteaches your body how to carry
hard things well.

(14:17):
And y'all, not just physicalthings, but it teaches your body
how to metabolize stress and toreally build resilience.
Um, it helps build resilience inyour muscles, but it always
builds resilience in your mind.
So when you learn how to push,how to breathe through

(14:38):
discomfort, how to stay steady,all of that is helping build
resilience in your body.
And that spills into yourparenting, actually, a lot more
than we realize.
So you don't need perfection,you don't need a gym membership,
you don't need an hour everyday.
You just need to be consistentand little bits of movement that

(14:59):
remind your body you're strong,you're capable, you're
supported, really trying tobuild some of that muscle.
So walking regulates, strengthtraining fortifies.
Um, and together they reallyhelp you live from a place of
strength instead of survival.

(15:19):
But the balance to that, ourbodies were never meant to go
without recovery.
Um, strength training actuallytaught me that.
So, as we're strength training,I said muscle helps our bodies
metabolize stress, but it onlygrows when we rest.
So the way that you build muscleis when you um stress the muscle

(15:43):
through strength training, itactually breaks the muscle down.
And rest for that muscle isactually what helps it repair.
Um, so the same goes for ourhearts and our minds too.
Like when we're stressing thosemuscles, rest helps those
muscles build stronger.

(16:04):
Uh, Jesus said in Matthew 11,28, come to me, all who are
weary and burdened, and I willgive you rest.
Rest isn't a reward, it's arhythm, y'all.
And it's necessary, it'spreparation.
Teach your kids like Sabbath.
I this is one of the practicesthat I really have been trying,

(16:27):
especially in the midst of ourbusy.
Um, I've been trying to makesure that I have a Sabbath every
single week.
Um, so teach your kids that showthat, model that.
Um, or you know, even start byjust having a slow morning.
Like let the laundry sit andwait.

(16:47):
Um go outside, take a walk, justtake it slow for one day.
Rest really is holy.
It's not laziness, it isobedience, and it is necessary
for your journey.
All right.
Rhythm number three is pouringout, but also having others pour
in.
Um, so we've got most of us havethe pouring out part down.

(17:12):
We understand how to do that,but you can't pour from an empty
cup.
And that's not just a cliche.
It's true.
Um, my husband has learned thisabout me, and I've talked about
this before too, but he'll giveme a couple of nights away a few
times a year.
Sometimes I'll go to a hotel.
Other times he'll take the kidsto see uh family and leave me

(17:34):
home alone.
Either way, I need that space torecharge.
I need time to practice thediscipline of solitude and
prayer and extended time in theword.
I need the Lord to pour into me.
Those disciplines are so crucialas we walk on the front lines of

(17:55):
spiritual warfare every day,y'all.
But I've also learned the powerrecently of really letting
others in my faith communitypour into me spiritually as
well.
I joined um a discipleship groupat church.
We meet once a month as a group,but we also meet throughout the
month as like prayer partnersand stuff like that.

(18:15):
We text each other, but we meetonce a month for several hours.
And y'all, it has been such agift.
I mean, we take that time, weencourage one another in truth,
we remind each other of truth,um, we build one another up, we
share honestly with one another,we confess our sins to one

(18:36):
another, we pray for oneanother.
I mean, it's just such a richtime.
I always come home lighter andmore grounded and more capable
of really showing up for my kidsand my family.
As foster parents, we're sooften the helpers that are kind
of holding out everythingtogether.
But Jesus himself modeled beingserved.

(18:59):
He let the disciples wash hisfeet, he let a woman anoint him
with oil.
Receiving isn't weakness, um,it's humility.
So, who are your people?
Who is pouring into you?
Don't do this alone.
Find a mentor, find somebody whoreally is gonna build you up in
your faith.

All right, rhythm number four: serve and be served, that kind (19:20):
undefined
of pattern back and forth.
Um, this might be the hardestrhythm for some of us because uh
we love to serve.
It's our nature as caregivers.
Um, but we may struggle withbeing served sometimes, but the

(19:41):
healthiest kingdom rhythminvolves both.
Um, let others really be thebody, you guys.
Allow your church family to usetheir gifts to the glory of God,
whether that's bringing you ameal or watching your kids for a
night.
Y'all, I am not a meal person.
In fact, when I started servingwith our foster care community

(20:03):
at church, I reached out.
We had started at this newchurch and they had a foster
care community.
Um, and I reached out to theleaders and I just said, hey,
you know, I have experience.
This is what I doprofessionally.
I'm happy to help in any waythat you give me, but I am not

(20:24):
good at bringing meals.
So please don't ask me to bringa meal, y'all.
Bringing meals to people makesme so very anxious.
I don't know why.
I don't know why.
That is just not my gifting.
But I have so many friends thatthey love that.
Like that is just the way thatGod gifted them.

(20:46):
They're nurturers that just loveto cook and serve others in that
way.
Um, so y'all, if you have peoplethat love doing that, let them
bring you a meal.
Um, let people watch your kidsfor a night.
Let people pray for you.
Tell them what to pray for youso that they can be praying.

(21:08):
You know, if you have somebodywho's really great at math and
wants to tutor one of your kidsin math, let them serve your
family in that way.
This is how we walk as the bodyof Christ is that we allow
everybody to display their giftsthat God has given them.
Um, and teach our children, youknow, teach your children this

(21:32):
rhythm too.
Let them see you receive thisservice.
Let them see you receive care.
Let them see that it's okay toneed people.
That's what community lookslike.
When we walk like we don't needanybody else, we just need to
pull up our bootstraps and tryharder and do more and all the

(21:53):
things.
We're not being good models toour kids.
Our kids need to see thecommunity, the body of Christ
really coming together to walkas one.
All right, number five is tolove and be loved.
And you guys, this might be themost important one because it
really is the heartbeat of thegospel.

(22:14):
Um, and as we talk about some ofthese spiritual disciplines, you
know, service and, you know,being poured into spiritually
and loving others and beingloved well.
It may not seem like thesespiritual disciplines affect us
physically, but they do.
These spiritual things changeour physical health as well.

(22:37):
It is, we are one person, onewhole person, body, soul,
spirit, right?
And so we have to care for thewhole person.
Um, so when we're talking aboutthese spiritual disciplines,
these really are ways not justto nourish our faith, to nourish
our spiritual body, but tonourish our minds and our

(22:59):
physical bodies as well.
Um, so to love and be loved, um,you know, you love big every
day.
You love your kids well, youlove social workers and birth
families, and y'all, you mayeven love on some attorneys.
Um, but what about receivinglove?

(23:22):
So your kids are not designed tomeet your relational needs.
They can't.
They were never meant to.
But that doesn't mean that yourrelational needs don't matter.
Um, I have a friend that I talkto almost every day, and that
connection really refuels me.
It's laughter, it's prayer, likeit's somebody to really um

(23:44):
ground me.
It's somebody that can look atme and say, hey, what's the need
behind your child's behavior?
Right.
She reminds me of truth.
She encourages me.
And it reminds me that I'm aperson outside of the constant
swirl of appointments andbehaviors and caseworker calls.

(24:08):
Like I am a person that needsthat, you know, friendships and
relationships as well.
And y'all, it's not justemotional support.
Like, it's not just aboutemotional support.
That's a spiritual discipline.
Scripture never presents a faithas a solo act.
You weren't meant to walk thisalone.

(24:29):
Over and over, we see commandsto bear one another's burdens,
to encourage one another, tospur one another on, to sharpen
one another.
Deep community is not an optionfor you.
It's the rhythm that keeps ourhearts soft, steady, and
connected.
And honestly, one of the placesthis plays out most powerfully
is in the local church.

(24:50):
But let's talk about a realchallenge for a second, because
for foster and adoptivefamilies, getting to church can
feel like uh like an extremesport or something, right?
Kids can't sit still, kids whodon't handle transitions well,
kids who melt down in children'sministry or won't, you know,
they won't separate from you orthey're triggered by crowds,

(25:13):
kids who don't look like thequiet little church children we
grew up around.
Um, and that's your reality.
You know, it's really temptingto say in those scenarios, maybe
this just isn't for us rightnow.
Maybe we'll go back when thingscalm down.
Maybe watching online is enough.
But community is one of the waysthat God holds us together when

(25:37):
life feels, you know, fractured.
It's not just attending church,it's being rooted in a church
family.
It's showing up messy, showingup tired, showing up with kids
who might not cooperate, showingup even when all your brain
wants to do is hide at home.
Because being an active part ofthe body, worshiping with

(26:00):
others, receiving teaching,being known, serving, letting
people pray over you, itstrengthens parts of your spirit
that isolation quietly weakens.
And yes, it might lookimperfect.
Maybe you walk the halls withyour children during the sermon.
Uh, maybe you sit in the backwith a bag of sensory tools.

(26:21):
Maybe kids' church is a hit ormiss.
Maybe you tag team with yourspouse.
Maybe someone else holds yourbaby so that you can breathe.
But imperfect community is stillholy.
You were never meant to carrythis calling alone.
Your key kids need connection,and so do you.
And the church, the actualgathered people of God, is one

(26:42):
of the ways that the Lord poursstrength back into you as a
weary parent.
Community is not a luxury, it'snot an extra, it's not something
you get when everything is easy,y'all.
It's one of the ways that Godheals, restores, and sustains
you in the middle of the hard.

(27:03):
And I can't say enough about howimportant it is also when we're
talking about, you know,receiving love and and really,
you know, being a part of um howimportant it is to stay
connected in your marriage, um,for you to receive love from

(27:24):
your spouse.
And y'all, it's not gonna beperfect.
And it's, I'm not talking aboutromantically every night or
whatever, but in intentionality,like really being um receiving
love and loving well um withinyour marriage.
Because when we allow ourselvesto truly receive love from our

(27:46):
spouse, it softens us, itsteadies us, it reminds us that
we're not carrying this callingall by ourselves.
And when our hearts are tendedto, when our hearts are cared
for, when we're connectedrelationally to other people, we
naturally become better parents.
Not because we're trying harder,but because we're better

(28:06):
supported.
Scripture tells us in first John419, we love because he first
loved us.
That means every single act oflove we pour out to our kids, to
our spouse, to the people weserve with, to the people in our
church, um, it begins withreceiving his love first.

(28:29):
It's his love that fills us, hislove that covers our gaps, his
love that teaches us how to givewithout running dry.
When we live from that place,when we're really receiving love
from God and allowing ourselvesto receive love from the people
that he's given us, somethingshifts.

(28:52):
We stop striving, and y'all,that's super hard.
Uh, we stop white knuckling ourway through everything.
Um, and we really start flowingfrom a heart that's actually
full.
And that and that's where wewant to be.
So as you think about your ownlife this week, where does your

(29:12):
rhythm feel off?
Is it in your physical health?
Is it in your spiritualconnection?
Is it your rest?
Maybe this week you just pickone rhythm to lean into.
Fast and feast and nourish yourbody intentionally.
Uh, build rest into yourschedule.
Also build movement into yourschedule.

(29:33):
Make sure there's a balancethere.
Let somebody pour into you thisweek.
You know, seek out a spiritualmentor, somebody that's gonna
pray over you, somebody that'sgoing to build you up in truth
and wisdom.
Um, and then say yes.
You know, maybe you say yes whensomebody offers to help.

(29:54):
Um, and think about writingabout it, journal or pray
through it.
Ask God to show.
You, what rhythm he's invitingyou back into.
You don't have to do it all tobe well.
Just start with one rhythm.
Um, that is what I'm gonna dothis week, really starting with
one thing.
Um, and mine is gonna be tostart nourishing my body better,

(30:19):
to get that fast feastnourishment under control.
Um, and then let God set thepace as to when you add
additional things in.
Thank you so much for spendingtime with me today, friends.
If this episode resonated, wouldyou share it with another foster

(30:39):
or adoptive parent who mightneed a reminder that wellness is
possible even here, even now?
Y'all are preaching that tomyself today.
Um, and I would also love it ifyou would leave a review on the
podcast.
It helps other parents just likeyou find this podcast.
All right, let's pray together.

(31:00):
Father God, we come before youweary.
Um, Lord, but we're willing.
We're willing to do what ittakes to serve you and to serve
our kids well.
Um, some of us are tired, likereally down to the bones.
We are worn from serving andwe're we're tired of trying to

(31:20):
keep it all together.
And yet you see us, you knowevery burden we carry, you know
every late night, every courtdate, every prayer whispered.
Um, Lord, would you teach usyour rhythms?
Would you teach us that balanceof work and rest and giving and
receiving and loving and beingloved?

(31:41):
Would you help us see thatwellness isn't found in doing
more, but in walking with youand how you've called us to walk
step by step, breath by breath.
For the parent who feels emptytoday, Lord, pour your living
water into their dry spaces.
Um, for the one who feelsunseen, God, remind them that

(32:03):
you delight in them and feel andfor the one who feels um guilty,
Lord, in in resting andfeasting, Lord, remind them that
there is this rhythm in yourcreation.
You rested after creation.

(32:25):
You, Jesus, you feasted withyour people.
Um you know, there is rest,Lord, in in what you've given
us, the rhythms that you'vegiven us.
We are called to rest.
God, reorient our hearts to yourpace.
Help us fast from what drains usand feast on what fills us,

(32:46):
Lord.
Surround us with community,people who pour into us as we
pour into others, Lord.
And when we forget, remind usthat we are loved, not just for
what we do, but because youfirst loved us.
Thank you for entrusting us withthese children, Lord, these
stories and these sacredcallings.
Help us to steward them withgrace and rest and rhythm.

(33:10):
Jesus, we love you.
We trust you.
It's in your name we pray.
Amen.