Which version do you use with your children?

[catholicanne]

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

OR

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
may angels watch me through the night
and wake me with the morning light



I used to say the first version as a child but I bought a little teddy bear today that says this prayer when you press his tummy and he says the second version, which I have never heard before.

[Em_in_FL]

We say the first (with one additional word):

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.


We have that same bear that said it the other way, but I prefer the original.

[FullOfThought]

Originally Posted by catholicanne

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

OR

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
may angels watch me through the night
and wake me with the morning light



I used to say the first version as a child but I bought a little teddy bear today that says this prayer when you press his tummy and he says the second version, which I have never heard before.

I like

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
may angels watch me through the night
and wake me with the morning light

[Joe 5859]

Yeah, I think all the toys say the second version because they're afraid of mentioning death to children and scaring them. I'm glad the toy makers have that impulse. But we still pray the first version.

[melissa b]

Now we lay you down to sleep
We pray the Lord your soul to keep
May God be with you through the night
And wake you with the morning light

Now that he's 4 our older son has started praying in the first person instead but we still use the third person with the 1.5 year old.

When we started when the first one was an infant, I did purposely choose to avoid the "if I die" phrase--it just didn't feel comfortable to me as a parent. Also, I figure if "God is with him through the night" that He'd stay with him were he to die.

[catholicanne]

Originally Posted by melissa b

Now we lay you down to sleep
We pray the Lord your soul to keep
May God be with you through the night
And wake you with the morning light

Now that he's 4 our older son has started praying in the first person instead but we still use the third person with the 1.5 year old.

When we started when the first one was an infant, I did purposely choose to avoid the "if I die" phrase--it just didn't feel comfortable to me as a parent. Also, I figure if "God is with him through the night" that He'd stay with him were he to die.

Oh I love it!

[Usige]

Hmmm... I remember this from when I was a kid

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.
Two angels standing near my bed,
One at foot and one at head,
To guide me safely through the night,
and wake me with the morning light.

We also used the "If I should die before I wake..." but it kinda freaked me out as a 5 or 6 year old kid. The mention of angels guiding me always gave me comfort.

[catholicanne]

Originally Posted by Usige

Hmmm... I remember this from when I was a kid

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.
Two angels standing near my bed,
One at foot and one at head,
To guide me safely through the night,
and wake me with the morning light.

We also used the "If I should die before I wake..." but it kinda freaked me out as a 5 or 6 year old kid. The mention of angels guiding me always gave me comfort.

So sweet! I like that version.

[mellowcalico]

My version is the same I learned when I was a kid:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
Please keep me safe though out the night,
And wake me with the morning light.