It’s very interesting to me how my mind is constantly tossing random thoughts up to my consciousness. It might be a memory, picture, person, place, thing, sound, song, phrase, prayer and so much more. It’s like being in a room full of people of all ages, color, ethnicity, race, religion, etc. all wanting my attention and the loudest…wins.  This is especially true when I’m falling asleep.

Very recently I was just falling asleep when the children’s prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep”, began to recite in my mind.

“Now I lay me down to sleep.  I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake…” and then it paused; and I thought of Linda. The words that followed were, “I’ll be dreaming of you.” 

A year earlier, Bea passed away in her sleep.  She had been living with dementia and was unable to recognize Linda and me so I wondered what or who Bea was dreaming of as she passed away in the blessed arms of sleep.

But I heard that phrase while I slipped away into sleep and I woke the next day to a new line to the old prayer; “If I should die before I wake, I’ll be dreaming of you.  Your touch, your smile, your voice your eyes all say, “I love you.”

The rest of the song was heard throughout the next long workday and by the time I arrived home in the studio that evening; it was all finished. 

Of all the songs in this collection; I hope you’ll listen to “Before I Wake” and hear my voice singing it to you.  It was written with Linda in mind but the overall message is clearly for everyone in my family.  

“…My heart belongs … to you.”