Peaceful Prayers of Simon

- Simon's nightly Prayer -

"Dear God, I thank You for Your care
You've been right with me everywhere

At school, at play, You're by my side
My special Friend, my loving Guide

And when the sun has said goodbye
And little stars shine in the sky

You're still with me, not far above
Right in my heart, for You are Love."

Amen

http://home.pcisys.net/~tbc/bedpryr.htm#prayer060326


This is the prayer that Simon says every night. I found the prayer on a plaque when our children were young. Sometimes we said this prayer, sometimes "Now I lay me down to sleep." I offered the prayer plaque to Ali when Simon was a baby and they adopted it as their nightly prayer for Simon. I have also been saying prayers with Simon since he was a baby. He always had such wide eyed awareness as we prayed, especially when we got to the part of thanking God for our family. We would list every person and all the dogs. Gramma Cathy was also prayed for and if I forgot to say her name, Simon would say, "and Gramma Caffy." He always wanted to make sure she was remembered in our prayers.

When Simon was visiting us, after the prayers were said, he almost always immediately went to sleep. He sleeps on a futon in our living room and could have wandered around or tried to turn on the light and play. He never did. The prayers created a peace that was like a signal that it was time to sleep and sleep he did.

I received this email from Simon's Father, Chris, the day after Gramma Cathy passed away. Of course I cried when I read this special email and I am very thankful that Chris shared this with our family.

"I talked with Simon a little about Grandma Cathy tonight. I brought it up during a break in our TV time, and then later when I tucked him in. We said a special prayer for Grandma Cathy and then I asked him if he loved Grandma Cathy and he nodded yes in the pure way that only he can. Then I asked him what he remembered about Grandma Cathy and he said: "Going to the city, in the tall buildings, and going in the elevator like this" (followed by upward motion with his hand) :)

I asked him if he remembered all the cats and that Grandma Cathy always called him Tiger. He shook his head and said "yes". Then I asked if he remembered the x's and o's for the tic tac toe game. He again nodded yes and then said, "and I look out the window at the city and all the tall buildings".

I am really grateful that Simon has some memories of Grandma Cathy and he seemed happy thinking about them.

Sometimes you have powerful moments that you can feel are being seared into your memory as they are happening. This was one of those. It wasn't long, but the few minutes remembering Grandma Cathy with Simon was moving and brought to mind all kinds of emotions. Good ones. For Simon, for Grandma Cathy, and for all the family.

Just thought you might like to know."

Love, chris
March 15, 2008


Photo: Simon at his 6th Birthday Party - 1/20/08