The tornado siren rang out just as I was about to turn off my light and go to sleep. My housemates were already in bed, but we made the bleary-eyed journey to the basement to wait out the storm. The lightening cracked ominously close; the rain pounded. I thought of my fears of tornadoes as a child and how I sometimes had dreams of portentous green clouds.

This morning, feeling the interrupted sleep in my bones, I remembered this simple prayer I’d written several years ago. When we feel fear, no matter our age, seeking calm for our nervous system can bring us back into a state of equilibrium–and, ultimately, to sleep.

Prayer before bed or over a nightmare

If said with a child, have the child repeat each line.

You are the God of darkness and light.

You are with me when I am awake

and when I am asleep.

Everywhere I go, you are already there,

even in my dreams.

You are in my breath—(hand on stomach)

in … out …

in … out …

You are in my heartbeat—(hand on chest)

beat … beat …

beat … beat …

You will never leave me. 

You hold me in your arms.

I rest in your love.