Kids Are Good For The Soul

Last month, one of my Facebook friends said that his children are good for his soul. I don’t really know what event prompted the post, but I’ve been letting the thought ruminate. I often feel this palpably when I’m enjoying my kids; when Gabe (4) comes and sits on me saying, “Can you snuggle? Snuggles are the best, Dad.” Or when Mikayla (1) taunts me to chase her around the counter as she giggles; or when Annabelle (10) wants to help me change the oil in the van. Regardless of the strain kids add, they have a way of mending the soul at unexpected times and in surprising ways.

Interestingly, though, I find this saying to be true in a much different fashion than it was probably originally intended. That is, kids are good for our souls because they force us to deal with, and see, the depth of our own sin. Before kids, in many ways, you can remove yourself from situations so that you are rarely pushed to your breaking point. If you have a co-worker you don’t like, you get to go home at the end of the day. If you’re sick and cranky, you can take the day off. If you’re impatient, it will only mostly come out while you’re driving behind a slow driver, etc. But with kids, these luxuries are often unavailable. You suddenly come face-to-face with who you really are when the chips are down. Kids will disrespect you in front of others, challenging your patience, pride, and anger. Kids will get out of bed because they’re scared just a little bit after you finally got everyone to bed. You’ve given them all you have the entire day, and all you want is those two hours to yourself, but now they’re scared, and you’re the lucky one who gets to deal with it, challenging your selfishness. When you’re in a fight with your spouse, the kids’ needs continue. When you haven’t slept all night, and you’re starting to get sick, the kids still need you and have challenges of their own. I can go on, but you get the point.

The fact of the matter is that we’re all broken, but sometimes it takes a little extra nudge for us to see just how broken we really are. For me, kids have been that nudge. And it’s good for our spirit when we finally realize the depth of our own brokenness. Because it’s only in this realization that we can know we need salvation.