Annually I load up my crew and head out for our child well-check visits. The pediatrician measures, weighs, looks them over, and (my favorite part) shows me the growth charts that compare this year to last. A child well-check is exactly what it sounds like: a stopping point to ask, Are they healthy? Is anything concerning? Are they growing, acting, eating, and sleeping as they should?
I’ll be honest—I used to treat these appointments like no big deal. That changed the year our pediatrician noticed a mole on my five-year-old son. Within months we were scheduling a removal procedure with a plastic surgeon and sending a sample off for biopsy. (Praise God we caught it early and there were no next steps.)
A few years ago, I worked with a nutrition coach who had us track every bite we ate for six weeks. To hit my macro goals, I had to log everything—the salad dressing, the morning coffee, even the afternoon cookie. After a few weeks, something became clear: what I thought I was eating and what I was actually consuming were two very different things. My perceived intake and my real intake didn’t match. I was eating far more calories than I realized, much less protein, too much fat, and barely any vegetables. It wasn’t until I saw the truth on paper that I knew what needed to change.
In his book, Made for People, Justin Whitmel Earley writes, “Our struggling stewardship of time shows us two important things. First, we have much more time than we think. But second, we are not good at using that time well because we are often mentally compromised at the moment of choice.”
A lot of times our spiritual lives can be like this. We think we are some place we actually are not. We tend to easily over AND underestimate both good and bad habits. This past year while I stayed consistent with Bible reading and in-depth study, I didn’t pray for others as faithfully as I hoped. I didn’t memorize any Scripture, despite all my new years resolutions for this area. I struggled with self-control in certain areas and found myself more easily irritated and angry with my kids.
I’ve started thinking of these end-of-year reflection questions as a kind of soul well-check. Instead of sitting in self-pity, I’m spending time asking God what next steps He wants me to take to grow and change in 2026. As we close out 2025, consider joining me. Pick just two or three questions to sit with.
How healthy are you?
How is your soul?
Reflection Questions
- What prayers did God answer this year- big or small? Who did I pray for consistently this year?
- What spiritual practices/ habits helped me to grow?
- What sin habits did God reveal to me? What next step do I need to take in this area?
- What fruit of the spirit felt the most lacking in my life? What fruit grew in me the most this year?
- How did I use my gifts to encourage others- inside and outside my home?
- What habits allowed our home to run more smoothly?
- Who did I welcome, gather, or pour into this year?
- What books, sermons, or songs impacted me this year?
- How can my home reflect the kingdom of God even more next year?
- How did I practice obedience when no one was watching?
Little Roots Co. 
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