My Soul to Keep

Like millions of children, I recited religiously (unintended pun intended) the following prayer for many years every night before I went to sleep:

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
Amen

Frankly, I said that prayer mostly out of worry that I might not make it though the night to the next morning. That's right, I wanted to make sure that the Lord kept my soul. God forbid that my soul should be lost sometime in the night, and no one could find it--especially me!

Fear was mostly the motivation then, and, frankly, it does seem a scary prayer for children. At least, it frightened me that I might forget to say it and therefore be lost after the nice "sandman" came.

If I had my childhood to live over, I believe that I would have been more comforted if someone had just told me to trust in God or whatever name you wish to call the Higher Power that permeates the universe.

Even now, after more decades than I care to remember, I still occasionally wonder if I should recite it before bed, and-please, don't tell anyone-have been known to occasionally whisper it to myself just to be sure where my soul goes-especially since death seems so much closer than in childhood.

In researching this essay, I learned that I am not the only adult who still feels compulsively drawn to that bit of verse. Apparently, even one president of the United States faithfully uttered it each night before drifting off to sleep. Sorry, could not find out who it was.

However, it occurred to me what an interesting psychological experiment it would be to write a "kinder, gentler" bedtime prayer, maybe reflecting my own personal belief in a higher power that is infinitely forgiving and caring, albeit much too deep and mysterious for a few pounds of gray matter to comprehend.

Perhaps, in so doing I would clear out some ancient cobwebs. Who knows? Maybe some parents or children somewhere may find the verses useful. Surely, I am not the only child who feared losing my soul if I did not recite that prayer.

Whether you believe in the efficacy of prayer or consider it just a waste of time, perhaps you will find the following experimental verses of interest from a spiritual, psychological or even sociological point of view. I personally embrace a god of love and trust rather than of fear and retribution and offer the following variations on this childhood prayer:

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