In a world that’s noisy, busy, and chaotic, it’s really easy to get frustrated and filled with anxiety about what the future holds. As the tension grew towards the election, I couldn’t help but feel the angst growing in me as the 24-hour news cycles filled every headline, ad, and crevice with endless opinions and possibilities of what could be if either candidate “won.” 

After one particularly long day, I shut out the noise, filled our front yard with a large pile of fallen leaves, and let our children (aged six, five, and three) go at it. They laughed, begged for the leaf blower to run continuously, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They had no idea about the stressors of this adult life that we all carry. God gently reminded me that day that I don’t have to worry about the world, because as one of my pastors says, “The world is going to world.” Rather, I hold children in my arms, that is where my heart, energy, and focus need to be directed. It is important work: The most important work. 

Jesus said, “...Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear” (Matthew 6:25, NIV). However, as a primarily digitally connected nation, it’s really hard to do when it’s constantly blaring throughout every screen. But really, think about what He’s saying here. Instead of worrying about what tomorrow brings, let’s live in the moments we have with these children we have been blessed with. Psalm 127:3 (NIV) reads, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.” God’s Word is truth, and the funny thing about children is: They don’t stay children. They grow and will eventually have their own marriages, children, friends, opinions, and lives. We really only get a short time to actively parent them, while the majority of their lives we will spend influencing them. 

In His above statement, Jesus is saying that we have the power to choose where we place our hope and focus. We have the power to choose what has a voice in our homes. We have the power to choose what we allow ourselves to be filled with. 

What sounds better to you? 

• A 24-hour news cycle or hearing what your children dream about for their future? Vision cast with them: What do you want your life to look like when you grow up? Would you like to live in the country or the city? What do you think your future wife or husband will be like? Dream with them.

• Independently scrolling on our screens or hearing laughter and giggles amongst crunching leaves? We are all tired and worn out, but get outside and have fun with your little people. Invest in the moments that will one day be a distant childhood memory that’s retold to their children. And when you hear it retold to their children, remember warmly that it was a sacrifice, but a sacrifice that reaped a reward. 

• Random political opinions or sharing stories of your own childhood with your children. Remember and share the sacrifices the adults of influence in your life made for you. Children love to know things, so share with them the special details that make up your own warm memories. Open the lines of communication with them, so they know you are available to talk, dream, and share, so when they need it, they know where to go. 

A friend once told me that if the enemy can’t take you, he will distract you. All of this news is just noise and chaos to distract us from our God given purpose to invest in and raise the children the Lord has blessed our homes with.

Don’t get me wrong: Is the outside noise important for our country? Yes. 

But should we dwell in it? No! 

As believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and therefore we must “Set our minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth” (Colossians 3:2, NIV). Let’s choose wisely to be a presence in our homes, not distracted by screens and worldly news. Rather, let’s invest our time wisely, pouring into our children, loving them well, and teaching them, also, to focus on the things above. They are the future of our church, and we have a beautiful opportunity to invest in them, to pray over them daily, and to show them the love, mercy, and might of our God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.