This is the prayer I was
taught as a child. I prayed dutifully, but delighted in the idea that I could add to the
prayer, and soon began to talk to the Lord in a very simple delightful way yet there
is very little that can be added to these sentiments.
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take,
If I should live another day,
Dear Lord lead the way
Many of you
are familiar with the childhood prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep," but I was
little surprised to learn that it is a shortened version of an Old English prayer, which
goes like this:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
bless the bed that I lie on.
Before I lay me down to sleep,
I give my soul to Christ to keep.
Four corners to my bed,
four angels there aspread,
two to foot, and two to head,
and two to carry me when I'm dead.
I go by sea, I go by land,
the Lord made me by his right hand.
If any danger comes to me,
Sweet Jesus Christ, deliver me.
He's the branch, and I'm the flower,
pray God send me a happy hour.
And if I die before I wake,
I pray that Christ my soul will take.
~Author Unknown~
as published in; http://www.dobhran.com/greetings/GRinspire456.htm |
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