Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Proverbs 22: 6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

At the age of 17 I talked my parents into signing for me to go to Army Basic Training.  I quit High School, got my GED and turned 18 in boot camp.  I had a lot of growing up to do.  After 3 months of misery at Fort Leonard Wood, MO I was assigned to Ft. Steward, GA and later for 2 years in Germany.  What I find remarkable, looking back, is that during that time of living away from everything familiar to me.  Family, friends, home etc., the only thing that remained familiar was God.  I remember that even during my most rebellious time, there was never a night that I put my head to the pillow without praying.  Even when I didn't think God was listening.

I remember when I was a child my mom kneeling by the bed with me to teach me those familiar words "now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep".  Those words may not seem like much, but hundreds of times when I was laying in my bunk or in a cold wet tent in some miserable army camp; lonely and homesick, hating my life because I was stuck so far away from everything I loved, I would say those words to God that mom taught me, and there come a peace.  A peace that defied my understanding, but supplied me a rest that got me through the moment.

I spent almost 5 years away that time.  I have been places and done things that would have shamed and terrified my parents if they would have known the details.  I wasn't dumb enough to tell them.

But through it all, God remained a faithful steady friend, that never left my side..

I learned later in life that Jesus told us "I will never leave you nor forsake you".  Even before I read it, God cared so much for me He showed it.

Just before she went to be with Jesus in 2006, I had a chance to spend some private moments with my mother.  We knew she wouldn't be in this world much longer.  Private words and thoughts were expressed between us that no one will ever know but me, her and God.  As she closed here eyes to rest.  I held her hand and prayed for her the way she had taught me to so many years before. 

Parents, let me encourage you to teach your kids to pray, you will never know know when and where they will be when they need it.

Until next time.....

Andy