Lean in.

I'm learning the enormous value of two tiny words: Lean in.  

On our best days, you might look in our window and see this:

Our family reading a bible story,
singing a hymn, 
rehearsing a memory verse.

You'd also see a child climbing on the table, a cold cup of coffee. You'd hear a silly question that derails what I'm aiming to impart.

What you can't see—and what we often fail to remember—is the spiritual battle that's being waged as we seek to disciple our kids. It's easy to forget that our battle is not against flesh and blood (our children's constant interruptions or our own pitiful attitudes), but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). 

When the kids are misbehaving and overreacting, instead of pushing away and sending them to time out... lean in. Scoop them up and look into their eyes to see what the real problem is. So much might be solved by simply connecting.

When the house is a disaster and it's easier to escape into the social media abyss... lean in. Put the phone away, turn on happy music, and get to work.

Lean in. Whether it be to comfort a child, to care for your home, to tend to the work or the people He has put in front of you... let it be an act of worship, a daily offering to the Lord.

As you seek to pour the Word into your kids, don't be surprised if it seems like every conceivable distraction and discouragement is thrown in your path. You will face opposition. The enemy loves to sow seeds of doubt that what you're doing by sharing the good news with your children matters at all. 

But here's the good news:
We serve a God whose Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11).
A God who multiplies a meager offering until it is more than enough (Matthew 14:17-20).
A God who promises never to leave us or forsake us in the raw work of motherhood (Deut. 31:6).

So lean in. Amid a thousand distractions, keep leading your kids to the Word. Don't give up praying over them. Sing hymns until you're all humming them without even realizing it.

Most importantly, keep trusting that your good, good Father and Overseer of your soul is shepherding you as you seek to shepherd your little ones.