It’s bedtime once more, and that means my son gets to ask existential questions about life and God—right before prayer.
My five-year-old son always seems to have deeper questions. Last night, he asked about angels. Specifically, he asked,
“Dad, are angels God’s soldiers?”
I have no idea where he comes up with these things. As far as I know, neither school nor our household has introduced that idea. But I answered,
“Well, in a way, yes.”
Then he asked,
“Does that mean they go into battle with bad angels?”
And I replied,
“Actually, yes. That did happen, according to Scripture.”
I told him about Revelation 12:7–9, where Saint Michael the Archangel leads a battle in Heaven against a rebellious angel and those who followed him.
I explained that one of the angels, full of pride, wanted to be like God. He didn’t want to serve. So he rebelled—and started a war in Heaven. Saint Michael and his angels stood their ground and fought back. They pushed the rebellious angel and his followers out of Heaven.
My son then asked what the evil angel’s name was, and where he was cast.
I told him that we’d talk more about that when he was a little older.
Still, even now, there are powerful lessons he can begin to understand:
- Pride leads to downfall. The angels who rebelled had beauty, power, and intelligence—but pride blinded them.
- Freedom comes with responsibility. Even angels had free will—and some chose rebellion.
- Being of service is a sign of greatness. Saint Michael didn’t seek power—he served God faithfully and stood for truth.
It’s amazing what comes out of bedtime moments. Sometimes, it’s a battle to get through the routine. Other times, it becomes a pivotal learning experience from father to son, and I couldn’t be happier about that.
Note to readers:
This reflection comes from a Christian worldview shaped by my conversations with my children. Whether or not you share that faith, the deeper truths about pride, freedom, and service are relevant across any belief system. My goal isn’t to preach, just to share the kinds of moments that force you to get clear on what you believe and how you pass it on.