I was trained, then forced, to say the "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" prayer every night by my mother.


The prayer creeped me out so much as a little girl, what with it talking about dying while asleep and someone taking my soul....but I had a kind of fundamental awareness, even as a little girl, and I did not want to be saying those words.


I mean, I told my mom I didn't want to say the prayer, and she stood there to make sure I did, every night, until my father made her stop.


I only just made my peace with praying about two years ago, and I'm nearing 62.


They become important, our prayers, when they're done properly.....but too many people just use them.