Guarding What Enchants the Heart

“I’d say it, and then she’d say it. Each time we’d say it faster as we laughed a little louder,  ‘Los Estados Unidos.’” As it turns out, saying “The United States” in Spanish was so much more fun than saying it in English.

It was my freshman year of high school. My Spanish partner was also my best friend and co-captain on our cheer team, Kim. We were having way too much fun in class, which was par for any of our courses. I had been so excited to learn Spanish that I memorized the first two pages of my Spanish book at the beginning of the year. I still remember, “¿De dónde eres?” “Soy de Panamá.” Although, 34 years later, I don’t recall who it was that lived in Panama.

My two years of Spanish gave me just enough background to locate the baño in Cancún my freshman year of college on spring break, practice my manners at any given Mexican restaurant, and enjoy the sweet sound of several of my coworkers at Four Seasons in Los Angeles affectionately calling me Esperanza—hope in Spanish.

But one of my favorite memories was at a local breakfast spot I loved in LA. The sweet lady who took my order knew exactly what I liked because I ordered the same breakfast bagel every morning. She would tease me and say, “Mucho chipotle.” We would both laugh, and as I would always respond, "un poco de chipotle."

I’ve also picked up a few favorite words and phrases from Austria, Italy, and Hawaii along the way. I’ve always loved the power of words, and I confess that beautiful accents from around the world captivate me… There’s something almost romantic about the sounds, rhythms, and expressions that give each language its own flair. Toss in the meanings beneath the words, and I’m completely enchanted.

We are all meant to be enchanted. God designed our hearts to be drawn to something. The question is, what are we enchanted by?

Encanto: What's Enchanting Us?

Recently, I decided to brush up on my Spanish. I’ve been enjoying the podcast Coffee Break Spanish in my downtime. The lessons are short, and I can’t help but wiggle a little when the jingle comes on, “Coffee Break Español.”

It didn’t take long for my enthusiasm about learning something new to spill over into family life. My kids have learned that if I discover something new, there’s a good chance they’re going to learn about it too, whether they like it or not.

One afternoon I looked at them and said, “Me encanta el chocolate.”

Meaning, I love chocolate (good chocolate, and in moderation, of course).  Then I explained that in Spanish encanto means charm or enchantment, but it can also mean being delighted by something or loving it deeply.

Since they had seen the Disney movie Encanto, that’s immediately where their minds went.  If you’re not familiar, Encanto, released in 2021, takes place in a magical fictional village tucked away in the Andes Mountains. Inspired by Colombia’s lush landscapes, vibrant villages, music, food, and rich culture, the film bursts with color while offering a meaningful reminder that true strength is not found in magic, but in the love, support, and presence of family.

But beyond the Latin pop soundtrack and the message of familial love lies a more difficult truth flickering within many modern homes.

In Matthew 6:21, Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The undeniable truth is that whatever captures our hearts becomes our treasure, and whatever we treasure will inevitably form us. 

 

Memories that Last

Without a doubt, many things in this world can enchant us. Some are gifts from our Father, meant to draw us closer to His heart. Other things slowly, quietly pull us away from Him and from one another.  And like many of God's gifts, technology can be used for good when it serves as a tool for learning, connection, encouragement, and drawing our hearts toward what is true, noble, and life-giving.

But sadly, one of the things slowly pulling families apart is the isolated glow of a screen.  With multiple TVs, tablets, iPhones, and gaming devices, everyone gets to choose their own flavor of entertainment. While personal interests and occasional solitude can be healthy, genuine family time is slipping away, and something valuable is being lost.

Stop for a moment and think about some of your own core memories growing up.

Many of our deepest memories are formed through shared experiences involving sight, sound, smell, emotion, and presence. They become emotional anchors that help shape who we are, where we belong, and what we value.

Maybe it was catching fireflies on a summer night, watching a meteor shower, or going to ballgames together.

Some of my own memories include listening to the Charlie Daniels Band on a Sunday afternoon boat ride with my family, the excitement and salty breeze of arriving at Daytona Beach after a long car ride, or simply getting a McDonald's sundae with my mom after visiting her family in Harrodsburg.

None of those moments were extraordinary. Yet somehow they became unforgettable. They are woven into the story of who I am.

What made them meaningful was more than consuming two-dimensional entertainment. It was the people, the presence, and the experience of sharing something… That may be part of why many parents today feel a quiet tension rising inside their homes. We are surrounded by glowing screens offering endless entertainment, yet many of us wonder what they may be replacing.

The concern is not that screens prevent meaningful memories. Technology can certainly be part of cherished moments and healthy connection. The concern is that excessive or isolated screen use can slowly crowd out the conversations, shared experiences, and everyday moments from which many of our deepest memories are formed.

In a January 2026 ABC News report discussing new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, pediatrician Dr. Megan Bhargava encouraged parents to look beyond simply counting screen hours and instead consider the quality of content, how children are using screens, and what screen time may be replacing in their lives.

Many forms of technology are intentionally designed to keep us engaged, rewarding distraction and constant stimulation while quietly weakening our ability to focus deeply, think carefully, sit patiently, and simply be present.

One of the strongest themes throughout the report was that children need healthy sleep, active play, movement, conversation, community, and meaningful family connection. When those needs are consistently met, screens often lose some of their appeal.

Researchers and professionals have been raising concerns about these trends for years.

“All screen activities are linked to less happiness.”— Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University

“We have overprotected children in the real world and underprotected them in the virtual world.”— Jonathan Haidt, professor at New York University

Showing Your Love

The root of encanto comes from the Latin word incantare. I found it fascinating that beyond the modern understanding of enchantment lies a deeper historical meaning: to chant or to cast a spell.  To be charmed by something is one thing.  To live under the heavy influence of something is another.

My prayerful encouragement to each of us as parents is to remain aware and intentional about what is enchanting our children. You would enchanting our children. You would never allow a stranger unlimited access to your child's bedroom, thoughts, and attention. We should approach devices with the same level of discernment.

The stakes are simply too high for our children to be enchanted away. The goal is not panic. The goal is awareness. The goal is formation. Because we are shaping far more than behavior. We are helping form habits, priorities, and ultimately their hearts.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6

Part of that training is removing, to the best of our ability, anything that interferes with the godly formation of our children.

We must do our best to understand what is shaping their thoughts, what they are seeing and hearing repeatedly, and what is quietly forming their loves. We do not have to remove every screen. But we should fiercely protect conversation, presence, wisdom, wonder, and meaningful connection.

You can say “I love you” in hundreds of languages. But one of the clearest ways to show your child that you love them is to lovingly guard what enchants their heart.

3-2-1

3 Scripture Verses, 2 Quotes,

and 1 Question to Consider

3 Scripture Verses:

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Colossians 3:2

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Deuteronomy 11:18

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.Proverbs 4:23

2 Quotes:

“Attention is the beginning of devotion.”  - Dallas Willard

“What you pay attention to is the kind of person you become.” - John Mark Comer

1 Question to Consider:

Do you really know what’s enchanting the heart of your child?