How’d You Sleep?

We give you hearty thanks for the rest of the past night

and for the gift of a new day, with its opportunities of pleasing you.

Grant that we may so pass its hours in the perfect freedom of your service,

that at eventide we may again give thanks to you.  Amen.

— #676 in The United Methodist Hymnal, current edition

“How’d you sleep?”

A therapist friend likes to ask that.  Along with his clients’ eating and exercise habits, he sees sleep patterns as significant to full health.

Psalm 127:2 says that sleep is a gift from God.  The end of that verse could also be accurately translated as “while they sleep, God provides for people.”

Back to my friend’s question,  “How’d you sleep?”  If you’re among the group of sleep-deprived in our culture, maybe this prayer from India, also in our United Methodist Hymnal, could be yours tonight: “Dear Jesus, as a hen covers her wings to keep them safe, do this night protect us under your golden wings.  Amen.”