The “White Paternoster” was “first found in print in Thomas Fleet’s New England Primer, the first edition is from 1737,” Cara writes. However, Cara writes that the above version is a combination of two prayers. Be open to how your child finds God and the things for which they are thankful.“Matthew, Mark, Luke and John” was once the best known prayer in England, used more often than the Lord’s Prayer.

This list could include everything from a dog’s wagging tail to a friend sharing their toys. The rest they can fill in with the ways they knew God during the day. They need only remember the first, last and second to last lines. Since “Father, Thank You for Today” is set up as a list, it is easy to teach to children. In autumn, express your gratitude for the bright colors of the leaves during winter, give thanks for a warm coat or a short commute. If you don’t live in an area with many birds, or if it is winter, you can substitute something else for “birdsong.” If you live in the city, you may want to give thanks for the coffee you drank that morning or for an umbrella to keep you dry in the rain. This classic prayer is easily modified to fit your own circumstances. May I dream good dreams and arise again tomorrow to thank you once more. Most of all, thank you for being beside me through each moment. “Father, Thank you for today, for all the ways in which I have known you…įor the music I’ve heard, and the things I’ve enjoyed,įor the meals, and for the cosy home I live in,įor my close family and for my special friends, These are more adult concerns, and it is good to be thankful for them. The prayer gives thanks for our daily bread, friends and our safety. “Lord, I Have Passed Another Day” touches on topics that are important for adults to remember, too. That does not mean that you can’t use it as an adult. The alternating rhyme scheme makes this prayer a bit more challenging for children to learn when compared to “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.” “Lord, I Have Passed Another Day” will probably not be a child’s first prayer, unlike “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.” With the slightly more complex rhyme scheme this prayer is more likely to be taught when a child is a bit older. Young children will easily identify with the line that mentions ‘play,’ while adults are more likely to feel drawn to the idea of faults at work and earning their daily bread. This is another prayer that is used by all ages. Whether you wish to use only the first half or both stanzas is up to you. Many people use only the first stanza when they pray but there are a large number who recite the whole prayer. The prayer’s simple rhyme scheme and steady rhythm make it easy for young children to memorize, while the words are profound enough that many adults continue to use this prayer throughout their lives. Some find the mention of dying before waking to be a bit grim for directly before bed, especially for young children, but that has not stopped thousands of parents from passing this prayer on to their children. “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” has been used for many years and hundreds of people recite it before going to sleep.

You may have said it yourself as a child. It is quite possible that you already know this well-known and very popular prayer. Here are five bedtime prayers to help you thank God for your day or ask forgiveness for your sins. Pre-written prayers are excellent for thanking God for all we have and all He has done for us. Such prayers are perfect for when there is not a single, unique event for which you want to thank God. You can also say a more general prayer of thanks or recite a prayer you have memorized. Bedtime prayers are personal and can be adjusted to fit your specific needs. You may want to thank God for a specific event that occurred, such as getting home safely from traveling or that your child’s fever broke. Prayers can be as precise or vague as you want. Some are very old and well-known, such as “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.” Others are not written down at all but created on the spot by the person praying. There are many prayers one can say before bed. Praying before bed helps you fall asleep with your mind fixed on God and His blessings. Bedtime prayers are an excellent way to take advantage of your impressionability. Your mind is most impressionable right when you wake up in the morning and just before you fall asleep. Praying before bedtime is a perfect way to end the day.

Now i lay me down to sleep meme