“I’m wearing my Batman pajamas, Daddy. Aren’t they cool?”

 

“Sure are, Tommy. Maybe I should get a matching pair.” His dad affectionately ruffled his son’s hair.  “Did you brush your teeth?”

 

“Yes, Daddy. Up and down, just like you said.”

 

“Good job!” He added, “You ready to say our prayers?” He sat on Tommy’s bed, relaxing against the headboard. He’d had a rough day at work, but he enjoyed these quiet moments with Tommy.

 

“Daddy, if I’m doing the praying, how can they be our prayers?” Tommy twisted his mouth and wrinkled his nose. His dad chuckled. Because inquiring minds want to know.

 

“You’re right, son. So tonight, you can say your prayers. Is that better?”

 

Tommy smiled, “Yes, daddy. Like you always tell me, say what you mean. Right?”

 

“You’re smart, little man. So, you say your prayers.”

 

The five-year-old knelt beside the bed, folded his hands, and began to pray, “Now I lay me down to sleep.” He twisted his head toward his dad. “But I’m not going to go to sleep right now. You promised to read me a story. Are you breaking your promise, Daddy?” Tommy scowled. “ You wouldn’t do that, would you? Because I remember you said never break your promise because your words won’t be worth anything.”  

 

“No, a promise is a promise. I will read you the story right after you say your prayers.”   

 

Tommy thought for a moment. “But then I’m telling God a lie because I’m not going to sleep. Won’t he be mad at me?”

 

“Son, God would never be mad at you. He knows I am going to read to you before you fall asleep. You’re just telling him that you’re getting ready. Okay?”

 

“I guess. I just don’t want God thinking I’m telling him a lie.”

 

His dad rubbed his eyes, trying to find the proper response. “Look at it this way, Tommy, you are going to be lying down, right? And you’ll probably fall asleep like you always do when I’m reading to you. So it’s not a lie.”

 

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. God sees everything so he would know I’m not trying to trick him or anything.”

 

His dad couldn’t help but sigh. Sometimes children are just too smart. “Can you continue with your prayer?”

 

“Sure, Daddy. I’ll start over.” Tommy closed his eyes, folded his hands, and began,  “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.” Tommy’s eyes flew open, and he asked, “What’s my soul? Why do I want the Lord to keep it?”

 

Knowing this was one of those big questions, his dad wanted to tread easy. “Well, Tommy, your soul is your spirit. It’s the part of you that believes in God and everything they teach you in Sunday school.”

 

“Then why do I want God to keep it?  Shouldn’t I hang on to it myself?”

 

“It doesn’t mean God is going to keep it. It means your spirit will be safe, and the angels will guard it until you wake up.” 

 

“Oh, I got it!  So the monsters or bad guys under the bed can’t steal it.” He peered under the bed. “Nope, no one is there. We’re safe.”

 

He nodded and smiled. How could four simple lines take so long to say? “Come on, Tommy, it’s getting late. Finish the prayer.”

 

“I’m learning things, Daddy. You said it’s good for me to be in- inquiz-”

 

“Inquisitive. You’re right. If you don’t understand something, you should always ask.” He patted Tommy's head. “Now, can you say the rest of your prayer, please?” 

 

Leaning against the bed, he started again, “If I should die before I wake." Tommy screamed, "What?  Daddy, that’s not possible, is it? If I die, who’s going to feed my turtle in the morning. And I’ll never get to tell you goodbye. If that’s going to happen, I’m never, ever, going to sleep again.” Tommy jumped up and sat on the bed, scowling. 

 

His dad wrapped his arms around the little boy and hugged him to his chest. “Tell you what, Tommy, let’s change that verse so you’ll be safe.” He thought for a moment and then added, “How about we say thy angels watch me through the night? Do you think that would be better?”

 

“I don’t know, Daddy. That’s kind of creepy having strangers in my room staring at me while I sleep.”

 

Dad’s patience was wearing thin, but he continued to try and be an understanding adult. “You miss Grandpa and Grandma, right? So, what if we said your angels are Gramps and Grams?  Both of them will sit with you.  Remember when you’d crawl up into Grandma’s lap, and she would rock you back and forth? Grandpa sang all those silly little songs. The two of them will sit and watch over you all night. I bet they’d love that.”

 

“Me too, Daddy.”   He smiled,  “It’s kind of cool having Grams and Gramps right here. Maybe Grams might even tuck me in if my blanket falls off during the night.”

 

He couldn’t help but smile.  “I’m sure Grams would love to do that. Can we finish now?”

 

“If Grandma and Grandpa are watching over me, the Lord can have more time to do more important things.”

 

“Nothing is more important to us than you, Tommy.” He kissed his forehead. “Now can you say your prayer from the beginning, please?”

 

Satisfied, the little five-year-old began his prayer,

 

“Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord, my soul, to keep;

Grams and Gramps, watch me through the night,

And keep me safe till morning's light.  Amen”

 

Tommy crawled up into bed beside his dad, who had fallen asleep. He pulled the blanket over his dad, whispering, “It’s okay, Daddy; I said the prayers for you too. I love you. Goodnight.” He laid his head on his pillow, snuggling close to his dad, and closed his eyes. “Goodnight, Grams and Gramps. I love you.”