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A Prayer for Waking in the Night.

Gentle Father,

I have prayed to you between so

many midnights and mornings,

reaching for your company,

asking for your help.

I have awoken to

crying babies, sick children,

nightmares, accidents,

and monsters under the bed.

I have awoken to

fire alarms beeping for batteries,

rain drumming on windows—

and loudest of all perhaps:

to the sound of my own

thoughts and fears.

Did you ever wake in the night, Jesus?

Did you ever find your mind treading water,

your heart struggling to settle,

your worries and questions

rising to the surface?

Be near to me, Lord Christ,

in this sleepless hour.

When I awake to help a child,

may I have the patience and compassion

to love selflessly, even when every cell

in my body is screaming for sleep.

When I awake in a river of ruminations,

may I bring my thoughts and fears to you in prayer,

trusting that even in this quiet darkness,

you are with me, and with my family.

No matter the reason, here I am, Lord,

awake and reaching for you again,

listening for what you want

to teach me in the night.

May my heart be open,

even now, to your gentle love.

Amen.

Connection Moment:

Is there a song or hymn that calms you or your children? Next time you are up in the night with a child, try finding a song you can sing together to disarm fear, calm the nervous system, or simply lull back to sleep. Sometimes songs you would never think of as lullabies can do the trick!

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Written by Alli Dalghren
Produced by Dan Gummel
music by blue.sessions.

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