There are several variations of this children’s bedtime prayer.  The following is one of the most common.

Now I lay me down to sleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I die before I wake;

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

To some, this may sound like a morbid prayer to teach our children.  After all, why would we be teaching children about death at such an early age.

For starters, death is something that all of humanity has in common.  The day that each of us is born we begin the same journey.  We are all marching towards the grave.  The path that each of us take will lead us to have different experiences but the destination is still the same.

One of the greatest lessons for anyone to learn is the need to be right with God.  To have accepted the gift that was given to each of us when Jesus offered himself up to be sacrificed.

Each of us should get in the practice of having a repentant heart.  Not waiting until bed but repenting and asking for forgiveness the moment we realize we have said or done something that is not pleasing to God.  This will allow us to place our head on the pillow each night knowing that all is well with our soul.

I can think of no greater peace.

Written by Larry Westfall.  Copyright © Finding Wonder 2016.