100 One-Minute Conversations
βSomeone once said, 100 one-minute conversations is better than one 100-minute conversation.β
That phrase has been turning over and over in my headβand Iβm beginning to believe it might be one of the most important truths for discipling our kids.
For too long, I flipped those numbers. I tried to have big, long, deep conversations with my kidsβthinking if I could just say the right things in the right ways, theyβd βget it.β I'd prepare for these talks like I was about to deliver the sermon of my life. I had points. I had illustrations. I even had scripture ready. Meanwhile, their eyes were glazing over by minute five. So I leaned harder into my logic. I doubled down on explanations. And it rarely landed the way I hoped.
Most of the time, once I realized they were zoning out, Iβd ask, βDid I lose you?β Only to get a response like, βI was thinking about dinosaurs.β
Those moments became a turning point for me. I realized I was trying to microwave spiritual maturity instead of slow-cooking it over time. I needed to stop chasing the big talks and start leaning into little, consistent conversations that felt normalβ¦and hopefully natural.
What Discipleship Often Looks Like
We often assume discipleship has to look like structured devotionals, family worship nights, or pre-planned curriculum. And donβt get me wrongβthose things can be really meaningful. But theyβre not the whole story. They donβt always stick. Life is busy. Kids are distracted. Parents are tired. When expectations arenβt met of what βthat special spiritual moment could be,β we get frustrated because weβve put our hopes in that one conversation or experience. And the truth is: our brains can only retain so much information, especially in long, intense bursts.
Our kidsβlike usβneed repetition. They need consistency. They need formation that happens in the everyday stuff of life.
The Power of Everyday Moments
Thatβs where the one-minute conversations come in (or five or tenβletβs not be too rigid here; the point is consistency, not length). A quick word of encouragement before school. A moment of prayer while stuck in traffic. Talking about the beauty of creation during a walk. Reflecting on forgiveness after a sibling fight. These are the little moments that, over time, stack up into a life of faith.
This is exactly what God instructs in Deuteronomy 6:6β7:
βThese commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.β
This is a call to integrated discipleshipβfaith thatβs not limited to Sundays or a 30-minute devotional, but something we carry with us through the daily rhythms of our homes.
Not Every Moment Has to Be Spiritual
Weβre not trying to make every moment overtly spiritualβthat can be exhausting and (surprisingly) even counterproductive.
But we are trying to live with Jesus at the center of everythingβand invite our kids into that rhythm.
When Jesus is baked into our normal, everyday lives, we normalize following him. It becomes something real. Tangible. Achievable.
Recognizing the Opportunities
Often, itβs as simple as asking, βWhat are you thankful for today?β at the dinner table. Or βWhere did you see God at work today?β during a car ride. Or βWhat do you think Jesus would do?β when your child is dealing with a tough situation at school. These arenβt lectures. Theyβre invitations. And they create a culture of spiritual openness where our kids know itβs okay to process faith in real time.
You might begin to notice patterns: βWeβre at the breakfast table together every dayβhow can we invite Jesus into that space?β Or, βWeβre brushing teeth together every nightβwhat kind of prayer or blessing can be part of that rhythm?β
Or maybe youβll recognize a gap: βWeβre rarely sharing meals as a family. What would it look like to reclaim even one meal a week to sit, eat, and reflectβlike Jesus often did?β
These are not new spiritual programs to implement. Theyβre small shifts in perspective that bring intention to the time we already have.
Galatians 6:9 offers this encouragement:
βLet us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.β
Presence Over Perfection
Itβs tempting to think these one-minute moments arenβt making a difference. They feel small. Forgettable. But faith formation is like gardening. We sow seedsβover and overβand trust God to bring the growth.
This also helps us avoid a common trap: performance parenting. So often, we put pressure on ourselves to βget it right.β We feel the weight of our kidsβ spiritual formation on our shoulders, and it can become paralyzing. Our heavenly Father is so patient with us
We donβt have to perform. We just have to show up. God knows our limitationsβand he partners with us in our weakness. What matters most is that weβre present. Attentive. Willing to lean into the sacred moments, no matter how ordinary they feel.
And hereβs the thing: this kind of discipleship doesnβt just shape our kidsβit reshapes us, too. When we start looking for one-minute windows to talk about Jesus, we begin to see him in more places ourselves. He shows up in the laughter, in the conflict, in the mess, in the quiet.
This is what Jesus meant when he said, in Matthew 28:19β20:
βGo and make disciples of all nationsβ¦ teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you alwaysβ¦β
Discipling our families isnβt about cramming all the information into their heads. Itβs about teaching obedience to Jesus, moment by moment, in the context of relationship, not just content.
So to all the parents, caregivers, and spiritual mothers and fathers in our network: you donβt need to be a Bible expert. You donβt need to have all the answers. You donβt need a perfect spiritual routine. But you do need to be available. To pay attention. To show up again and again with love, grace, and a willingness to point to Jesus in both the beautiful and the mundane.
Discipleship isnβt about a perfectly crafted lesson plan. Itβs about presence. Itβs about intentionality. Itβs about stacking ordinary moments until they become extraordinary.
Letβs embrace the one-minute moments. Because those just might be the ones that shape a lifetime.