Now I lay me down to sleep
Now I lay me down to sleep – is a song /prayer that I heard as a child. Maybe you remember it.
the following are the lyrics that I got on the web should you not remember the prayer. It has been revised several times and there are copies on the web for your to browse should you wish to do so. I extrapolated the following from the web dictionary. Perhaps the earliest version was written by Joseph Addison in an essay appearing in The Spectator on March 8, 1711. It says:
When I lay me down to Sleep,
I recommend my self to his care;
when I awake, I give my self up to his Direction.
A later version printed in The New England Primer goes:
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I shall die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.This little prayer has been playing in my head now for a week or so. I wonder why it only seems to address itself to the younger generation. Perhaps it is because I have been getting my “house in order” shedding, and recycling that I feel this little prayer is one that should be for all ages. Especially those of us who are nearing our golden years. As I packed and filled yet another bag for the Salvation Army, I thought of this, and wanted to pass it along. I’ve seen to many friends pass on into the “great beyond” and their “treasures” and possessions became “stuff” to be rid of by family or persons unknown depending on the situation.
We don’t like to talk about such events, but that is what life is, we come, we live, we leave. In the “we live”part, we deal with all sorts of challenges and adventures, our collections, our memories, how many of them do we actually look at and actually “see” as the years pass by. In cleaning up I relived a lot of fun moments (during the collection) but I also realized that a lot of what I had /have was no longer being used, admired, or even much thought of.
Its cold outside, why do I need a dozen or so hoodies, when it comes time to wear one, I usually wear the same one or two all the time. Someone else can benefit from them, they are in good condition, warm and in a thrift shop will be very affordable. I used to like my “Designer” labels, and would enjoy just looking at the variety in my cupboards. I used my leather purses for decorating and staging a “look” along my walls or hanging from a door. Now I’ve kept only a few that I “may” use at some time or another. I’ve come to terms with the “need” I had for wanting to “possess” (comes from being a child born during the war) =^_^=
Anyway, just musing out loud. What do you think, isn’t the above prayer a good one for each and every one of us?
PL Precept #11 Always be with God
That said, remember to live with a smile in your heart. Pass it on!
