As far back as I can go (and I remember stuff from 3-4 years old) I have ended my day with prayers. Sometimes said with my Mom, but mostly remember my Grandma doing that. There were 4 spoken prayers and a sung prayer. My Grandma was the only one who included the sung one. The German prayer and song I never knew the English words to and never thought to ask what they meant.
In no particular order:
The Lord’s Prayer (you should all know this one)
Tender Jesus
Tender Jesus, meek and mild
Look on me, a little child
Help me if it be Thy will
To recover from all ill
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Now I Lay Me
(this is the version I learned)
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
And this I ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen
(this is the version Marvin learned and the one we taught the kids)
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Glad and well may I awake
And this I ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Ich Bin Klein
Ich
bin klein
Mein Herz ist Rein
Kann niemand d'rin wohnen
Als Jesus allein
(the translation I learned after I was an adult)
I
am small
My heart is pure
No-one can live there
But Jesus alone.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Now, on to the German song. Once Grandma was gone, I never heard this again. I did a lot of research on the Internet and think I found it. The only words I could remember were “geh zur ruh” which means “go to rest”.
Here is the video I found on Youtube, with the translation below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNR0IQ0CUng
Tired, I'm going to rest,
Close both eyes.
Father, let your eyes
Be over my bed!
All who are related to me,
God, let rest in your hand.
May all people, big and small,
Be commended to your care.
To those sick at heart, send rest,
Close the eyes wet with tears!
Let the moon stand in the sky
And look down on the quiet world!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
My faith has been absolutely fundamental to my life. My faith is what kept me from committing suicide. When I was in the hospital at the beginning of the year and faced the possibility of death, I was fairly calm. I look back at that time and know that I was being well cared for by Jesus. I was saying all these prayers (except for the German song) plus the 23rd Psalm over and over. I am so grateful for the foundation I had from toddlerhood on by these prayers.
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