9.
Rest is also necessary to the care of the body. A person gets tired, even if he doesn’t work, but even more if he works. That is already rest when a person stops working and when the senses shut down, that is sleep. God Himself has ordered it thus so that body and soul may refresh and restore themselves. There are illnesses where one cannot sleep and that has bad results. Thus in sleep one sees a gracious gift of God and thanks Him heartily for it. And since even in sleep one can meet much evil, one should commend one’s self to His gracious protection if one is laying down to sleep. If children lay down or are laid down to sleep and do not go immediately to sleep it is good for them in the silence to consider how they have passed the day. This can also occur beforehand. Then they can ask the Lord our Savior for forgiveness for whatever they have overlooked and fall asleep in His peace. At the same time they can recall His gracious acts and especially that He has given His Life for them and poured out His Blood for them. They get used to laying quiet nicely and to remain under the covers for they can harm themselves if they throw them off. When they are wakened, they rouse themselves and get contentedly out of bed. Then they greet their parents and whoever else is with them and wish them a good morning. But what is a good morning? When one is in the peace of Jesus Christ and inwardly content in His dear Presence. In England many families are accustomed for the children, when they arise, to kneel before their father and mother and ask for a blessing. They lay a hand on their head with the words, “now the Lord bless you.”
Something
of Bodily Care for Children
Translated by Pastor Roy Ledbetter
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