I’ll be honest—there are nights when I lie in bed wondering: 

Am I doing enough? 

Am I showing them Jesus enough? 

Will they even want to follow Him because of what they see in me?

It’s hard enough to be on my own journey with the Lord, much less lead little people to understand who Jesus is. The weight of that can feel crushing.

But then something happened in our home that shifted everything.

My Daughter Accepting Jesus As King of Her Life 

My oldest daughter was just past seven when she looked at me one night and said she was ready to pray and make Jesus the Lord of her life.

I called Michael in, and he prayed with her while I held her tight. 

And I just wept! I was shaking with the reality of it.

Because here’s the truth: I want so badly to control this part of her life. 

I want to guarantee that she knows the hope of Jesus in a world full of darkness. 

But I can’t force her to see it! 

All I can do is walk closely with Jesus myself, hope she sees the fruit in my life, and pray she decides it’s worth following.

And in that moment, she did!

A Simple Idea That Became Something Sacred

Not long after, my sister (who happens to be my neighbor, co-worker, and fellow mama of four) and I had this thought:

“Our kids are eight. What if we let them stay up one night a week and watch The Chosen with us?”

It sounded fun and framed it as something special just for the big kids.

So we tried it! 

Our Friday nights have now become “Chosen Nights.” 

We quickly realized it was more than just a fun idea. 

We’d pause every five or ten minutes to answer questions, flip open Bibles, or even search online to connect the dots. 

And our kids leaned in—wide-eyed, curious, sometimes even tearful!!

It has been such an incredible time for us to connect more with them about the life of Jesus and what the Bible says!

The Night That Undid Me

There was one scene I’ll never forget. 

A Roman soldier, hardened and rough, came to Jesus desperate for his dying son. 

With tears in his eyes he said, “I know You’re Lord. Just say the word, and he’ll be healed.”

And right there on the couch, my daughter reached over, grabbed my arm, and whispered, “Why am I crying?”

I told her, “Because this is beautiful. A hard heart just softened because of Jesus’ love.”

And we both sat there with tears in our eyes, watching a TV show that God was using to shape her understanding of who Jesus really is.

THAT is why if you have talked with me for even 10 minutes lately you’ll hear me say “You should watch The Chosen!” 

What God’s Been Teaching Me

Lately, I’ve caught myself spiraling in the same thought loop: I’m not doing enough.

I worry that my kids will somehow miss Jesus in the middle of our loud, messy, chaotic home. 

That the noise and the tantrums and the endless to-dos will drown out the very thing I want them to see most clearly.

And yet… God keeps meeting me in the smallest, simplest rhythms.

This little Friday night tradition of popcorn and The Chosen has become such a reminder of His grace. 

Somehow, my kids are beginning to understand the character of Jesus more deeply (and at a younger age!) than I ever did. 

And that realization stuns me!!

Because it’s not the fruit of my flawless discipleship plan. 

It’s not proof that I’ve finally gotten it right. 

It’s just evidence of His kindness, breaking through our ordinary moments and reminding me: 

He’s the one doing the heart work. I’m just invited to be present.

Set Up Your Own Chosen Night

For us, the sweet spot has been starting this tradition when our kids turn eight. 

Any younger, and it’s just too hard for them to track with all the dialogue and nuance, but at eight, they’re curious and ready to ask big questions. 

We make it feel special—popcorn, snacks, and the thrill of staying up later than their siblings. It’s their privilege, their night!

One thing we learned quickly: we skip Episode 1 (of Season 1). 

It’s powerful, but honestly too intense for our kids right now. 

Everything else, though, has been such a gift! 

We pause often, sometimes every ten minutes, just to answer questions or flip open the Bible together. 

Those pauses have become some of my favorite parts, because it shows me just how much they’re trying to connect the dots.

I’ll also say that it also helped that our daughter had already read The Action Bible. This comic-style version gave her a framework for the stories, so when they came up on screen, she had context that even I didn’t always remember!

But if I’ve learned anything, it’s this: don’t overthink it!

It doesn’t need to be polished or perfectly planned. 

This isn’t about executing the ideal discipleship model…it’s about showing up, creating space, and trusting God to do the heart work that only He can do!

Last night, after a long day with our youngest, my daughter surprised me by setting up our “Chosen Night” snacks all by herself! 

A little charcuterie board of oddly cut carrots, potato chips, chocolate chips, and popcorn. 

And in that small, imperfect, beautiful moment, I felt God whisper:

You are not failing. I am here. I am enough.

And friend, if you’re carrying the same weight I am—you’re not failing either!

Looking for a Weekly Reset?

If this post resonated with you, I’d love to invite you into something new I’ve created: The Weekly Dwell podcast. 

It’s a short, simple space to pause in the middle of your busy week, breathe deeply, and realign your heart with truth.

Each episode is designed to help you dwell on Scripture, reflect on God’s presence in your everyday life, and walk away encouraged—not overwhelmed. Think of it as a midweek reminder that you’re not alone in this journey of faith and family.

You can listen to the latest episode of The Weekly Dwell here, and be sure to subscribe so these moments of encouragement show up right when you need them most.