Before We Sleep by L. L. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 22, 1916

Before We Sleep

By L. L. C.

In the Scripture we are told that every one who took his neighbor’s garment as a pledge should return it to him ere the sun went down. It is well for us to remember that no one knows what a day may bring forth, and that it is wise, when we retire to rest at night, to have everything as we should wish it if we knew that we should die before morning. The effect of this desire to have things all made right before going to sleep is seen in a little story which has come to our notice.

Donald knelt at his grandmother’s knee to offer his evening prayer. He said, “If I should die before I wake,” and then stopped. The grandmother prompted him, “‘I pray’—go on, Donald.” “Wait a minute,” interposed the small boy, and springing to his feet, went scurrying downstairs. In a short time he was back again, and again kneeling, took up his prayer where he had left it. When his grandmother had safely tucked him in bed, she questioned him rebukingly concerning the interruption in prayer. The boy answered that he had not forgotten what he was saying, but that was the very reason why he had stopped. “You see I had upset Ted’s menagerie and stood all the wooden soldiers on their heads, just to see how he would tear around in the morning; but if I should die before I wake, why—I did not want him to find them that way, so I had to go down and fix them right.” How wise it would be if some older ones than Donald would feel the same way about their evening prayer. L. L. C.