Scientists love to study how happy parents are (or aren’t). Year after year, news outlets report on the topic, touting studies that they say either find how unhappy parents are...

There’s no doubt about it – parenthood is exhausting. It’s a huge investment of time, money and effort. From the sleep deprivation couples with infants and young children must endure to how a teenager’s backtalk can really work that last nerve...

At some level, we understand that, in the end, happiness isn’t measured by the many things most parents give up in order to raise a family. There’s nothing wrong with expensive vacations, dining out, and eight hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. Those things are certainly enjoyable – but they can only give us temporary happiness.

There’s a deeper satisfaction that comes from living your life to the benefit of others, and of serving your children well. There’s a joy that fills the soul when you see your daughter faithfully serving at church or your son’s face lights up after you’ve explained something new and that “aha!” moment strikes. Moments like those make the sacrifices of parenting worth it.  This type of transcendent love is what causes us to look beyond ourselves and become the men and women our children need us to be.


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excerpt from Daly Focus by Jim Daly     click here to read entire article