Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, August 8, 2015
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
I never really learned to pray at bedtime, as a young child. As the youngest of a bunch of children, my parents were a little bit stretched to take care of one more child. On top of which, my parents were lapsed Catholics. So, I guess my early instruction in religious practices was a bit non-existent.
Except for my grandmother. She lived with us for several years. True, she was suffering from the effects of dementia, which got worse over time. But, I dimly remember her trying to teach me the Lord’s Prayer. At least, starting to teach me. (Somehow, her lessons did not go well. That horrible dementia was the culprit.)
This bittersweet memory came flooding back to me as I read the following line from the Evening Prayer: “Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping.” I wonder whether that family-related memory might be one reason why sometimes I am not exactly eager to pray on a regular (that is, daily) basis.
Dear Lord, gracious God, thank You that You have Your ears open to my voice. To any of Your children’s voices. Or, for that matter, any of the internal cries of our hearts, too deep for words. Thank You for Your guidance and protection, too! I really need You with me, Lord. I suspect there are some praying this with me who do, too. Be with all who need you, tonight. In Jesus mighty, powerful name, amen and amen!
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Visit the website http://dailyoffice.org/late-us/ to find out more about Morning and Evening Prayer!
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