Now I lay me down to sleep.

[oneighty]

My foster mother, Evelyn kneeling beside me, a four year old child,she leading me in the child's prayer:

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.

For months I was afraid to go to sleep, I might die.

180

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. And there was the alternative to that...

Now I lay me down to sleep
A bag of peanuts at my feet.
If I should die before I wake,
I leave them to my Uncle Jake.

Sorry it scared the you-know-what out of you, oneighty.

[JitterbugPerfume]

2. Oh my !!

Poor little Eddie , afraid he would die before he would wake

Boy , that would be awful to wake up dead <smile>

[Cleita]

3. My aunt Frances tried to teach me that but my mother

stopped her cold. (I heard about it years later.) Even though her English at that time was very new, she understood enough to know that this is one scary Gringo prayer for a little kid.

[izzie]

9. Said that all the time I was growing up. My mother did it with me.

n/t

[Nikia]

4. I don't think that prayer is appropriate for children

Children shouldn't be afraid of dying in their sleep. It isn't really even a likely possibility once they have reached the age where they could repeat that prayer. Children do not have a good comprehension of weighing the possibilities. If a trusted adult says something bad could happen, they often fear it even if the chances are very slim.
I think that it could be appropriate for older people who have a more accurate perception about their risk of dying. Many people would actually prefer to die in their sleep. After having several dreams about dying through the years which usually included a very real memorable horrible feeling, I would prefer to be unconscious when I die too.

[JitterbugPerfume]

5. Boy

that is a scary prayer for children Any kid that has had a puppy or a goldfish that died knows what DEATH is

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. Yeah, my kids still pray for their kitty that died 5 years ago, as

well as the one who went missing in September.
And sometimes for fish who have moved on through the big whirlpool.

[oneighty]

7. That was

sixty six years ago. Often times it passes through my thoughts along with other child hood memories.

180

[arwalden]

8. Making children afraid was the whole intent... and it works.

Allen