Growing up, I learned the bedtime prayer that starts “Now I lay me down to sleep. ” When it came time to teach my children something to say at night, I reconsidered. It has a nice rhythm and rhyme structure, but the words get a little dark talking about “if I should die before I wake.” I didn’t really want to introduce upsetting thoughts to the children while they’re trying to go to sleep.

I thought about teaching them the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd” and still might when they’re older, but it’s a bit long for now. Then I stumbled upon another psalm. I actually heard it in Spanish first, but it’s nice in English too.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

It took me about a week to teach it to my kids who were around 3 and 9 at the time. I would say a phrase and then they would repeat it back until they each had it memorized. It was perfect for the period of time when the youngest was getting nightmares. I simply had her say it once or twice, and she would relax and go to sleep.