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Hey all,

As a child I learned my first prayer from my folks.  "Now I lay me down o sleep..."

I suppose all of you heard this four verse prayer, but does anyone know the fifth verse?  My Mom never heard it before and she is 90 yrs old !

doc

Here you go brother, this is what I taught my kids. It is a song, as I know it.

“NOW I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,”
Was my childhood’s early prayer   
Taught by my mother’s love and care.
Many years since then have fled;
Mother slumbers with the dead;
Yet methinks I see her now,
With love-lit eye and holy brow,
As, kneeling by her side to pray,
She gently taught me how to say,
“Now I lay me down to sleep:
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.”
 
Oh! could the faith of childhood’s days,
Oh! could its little hymns of praise,
Oh! could its simple, joyous trust
Be recreated from the dust
That lies around a wasted life,
The fruit of many a bitter strife!
Oh! then at night in prayer I ’d bend,
And call my God, my Father, Friend,
And pray with childlike faith once more
The prayer my mother taught of yore,
“Now I lay me down to sleep:
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Resting in the hands, of the Lord.
Bob

Thanks Dreamweaver!

Brother, that's beautiful and I don't think that I've ever heard or seen the whole thing as you have it posted.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 121:2 NASB  My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

That is the prayer, as my parents taught me. My dad, wrote it down shortly before his death in 1991.

That's beautiful Bob - I'll teach it to my Grandchildren.

But the third verse I learned was "If I should die before I wake,"

Did anyone learn this version?

4th verse?

5th verse?

Brothers and Sisters,

I'm wondering if there might be many versions of this passed down through generations. I'm thinking about many very old Gospel songs that were somewhat different depending on what part of the country you grew up in or what country you came from. Regardless, this is a very interesting thread.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 18:2 NASB  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Well my dad was from Greenville, Indiana. From what I found out, his dad (Sylvester) taught him this version. 

By the way, I never knew my grandfather from my dads side. He died in a traffic accident in Dayton Ohio, in 1955.

Dreamweaver,

Brother, the reason I asked concerns a Christian, German community near my home. I know many of them, and they still do things just a little bit differently than we do. They many times talk about the German version of various things. It's very interesting to hear about how various cultures and countries pass things down to their children, especially the things of the LORD. Several generations of them have managed to stay together, and they are wonderful people.

I just remembered the title of this thread. I wonder what the 1813 surprise is.   ???

Love In Christ,
Tom

Philippians 4:7 NASB  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Brother Tom,  my great grandad is of, a Scotch-Irish background.

I guess we have to wait for the 1813 surprise.  :o :o :o

Remembering history though, that was about 1/2 way through the war of 1812.

I have heard that song before. I have heard many different versions of this prayer.

The original is supposedly from the 18th century

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.


I kinda like this one for mothers:


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray that my sanity to keep;
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.

I pray I find a little quiet
Far from the daily family riot;
May I lie back ... not have to think
About what they're stuffing down the sink,
Or who they're with, or where they're at,
And what they're doing to the cat.

I pray for time all to myself
(Did something just fall off a shelf?)

To cuddle in my nice, soft bed
(Oh no! Another goldfish ... dead!)

Some silent moments for goodness sake
(Did I just hear a window break?)

And that I need not cook or clean ...
(Well heck! I've got the right to dream!)

Yes, now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my wits about me keep;
But as I look around I know ...
I must have lost them long ago!

Brother I just love that verse. It was written just for me.  ;D ;D

Well, folks,I tried to insert the image of this 1813 Tract Primer but could not figure it out.  It is amazingly spiritual and solid in doctrine.

Pastor Roger got the version I learned in 1942 from my folks.  I was 3 yrs old.

The surprise is the 5 th verse:

"And this I ask Jesus' sake." !!!  This 4 verse prayer bothered me when I thought about the words - what 5 yr old thinks about dieing?

In 1813 this children's prayer had 5 verses and the last one was the clincher.  My imagination was challenged as to just why the last verse was omitted in tradition - perhaps Satan was instrumental in one of his favorite tricks - forgetfullness.  Perhaps the rather common habit in the early 20th century embarrassed parents when their children used a swear word in their prayers.

In my mainline protestant church one rarely heard Jesus Christ's name mentioned  - He was The Lord or God's son or whatever.  His name -  used in vain  - was commonplace on the streets and in other's homes - including mine.  May God forgive.

Cultural habits are in constant flux - each new generation trying to outdo the last - is there any hope?  Today's rebellious language causes me to grieve for the souls of our youth.

"Even so, come Lord Jesus."

doc

waitamo - this may do it -          ()

Actually it is not an uncommon thing for little children of 5 and even younger to think of dying when they have been surrounded by death and a life of great hurt. I have had to contend with it many times in children of that age.

I think that the verse you mention as the 5th verse was an add in to the original prayer. As I said there are many versions of this prayer out there. However it should have been in the original and in all of them since then.

Personally I was taught as a child that all prayers should end "In the name of Jesus Amen". So when I was taught this prayer that was the ending that we gave it. There are many different religions, cults would be a better word here, that do not believe in praying in the name of Jesus. So I would imagine that might be one of the reasons that this line is frequently omitted.

In my home we were taught to pray and at the end we would say "In the Name of Jesus", we were not taught to say for the sake of Jesus. My father taught us, there is nothing we could do for the sake of Jesus, Jesus did and does everything for our sake. So it had to be "In the Name of Jesus".

Amen Sister Maria!

This is exactly the way that I was taught and the way that I taught my children. The same reasons and more were given in many conversations that explain to children the things of the LORD and what he does for us every day. This obviously involved thanks for every bite of food and everything else that GOD provides for His children. The parents and grandparents here know there is understanding in their little faces when we take the proper amount of time and effort to teach them these precious truths. AND, even the little ones come up with some questions that are very reasonable. It makes me extremely sad to know that many children in this increasingly evil world are never taught the precious things of the LORD. Again, this and many other things give me reasons to thank GOD for Godly parents who really cared in making sure that we knew the things of the LORD and kept up with this most important education as we grew up.

Love In Christ,
Tom

John 10:11 NASB  "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Amen Beps, I am so thankful to God that He loves the children with a tender heart. I also give the Lord thanks that I was able to teach my children, and that they hve taught their children and have allowed me to also be a mentor to them as wel as my grandchildren when it comes to the things of God and spiritual things. I give God the glory and honor and thanks that my children and grandchildren call me from wherever they are even 2,000 miles away and ask "grandma will you pray with me?" That brings such happiness into my life.

Sister Maria,

Watching GOD working in our families is a beautiful thing. I many times think about how unbearable it must be for the lost when they face trials and troubles. Then I think about all the good times that Christians have and how we should thank GOD for them.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 103:1-5 NASB  A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Brother, I think that when those who don't have Jesus in their heart face trials and tribulations, they don't know what to do so either they go shopping and max out their crefit cards, or they do the unthinkable, some commit suicide, if only they would accept Jesus into their hearts.
Pray for the lost, while there is yet time that is all we could do besides witnessing to them.