by John S Foster

Created on: July 08, 2009

Lay me down to sleep

When I awake, whatever time of day. I thank God.

I thank Him for keeping me while I slept.

I thank Him for having a warm place to sleep. For having a roof over my head.

I thank Him.

There are many who don't have these things. Who sleep under a bridge. In the cold of winter. Who sleep in hunger and in filth. Who sleep in prisons or as slaves.

And so I appreciate what I do have.

And I thank Him

But more than thanking Him for waking me. I thank God for putting me to bed.

For laying me down to sleep.

For in the days we live in are tough. Who can know what a day may bring?

How can we know if we will even get home at night?

What tragedies lay ahead? On any given day.

I am not being pessimistic.

But I see the evil all around us.

I work in a hospital setting and I see the desperation of men.

The physical and psychological issues that affect the old and the young.

The worry on the faces of loved ones who care.

Then I think, that my problems are small in comparison.

Then I thank God.

Before that, I worked in the Criminal Justice system. And I saw the desperation of men.

The criminal element of the mind. The family curses. The selfishness of lust.

And I can easily recall a time when I sat in that same seat.

And I thank God.

Through all of this. Being on both sides of the law. Not knowing whether I will live another day. Being in the midst of obvious evil. Where a life means nothing.

And when I have made it though another day, and I have entered my home safe and into the arms of my Wife and child.

I thank God.

So when I lay myself down at night. Having survived another day. Being in my right mind. Sober and not high. At peace, without anger or worry. Warm and fairly safe. Full and not hungry.

I thank God.

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