Sleep Aid

Months ago, Joe gave Phil his stuffed dog
Sam to sleep with.
Grandma is visiting,
And Joe gave her his stuffed bear
Jake to sleep with.

Almost every night, I pray for Joe’s sleep,
That it will be sweet and not scary.
Almost every night, Joe joins us in bed.
In the morning, he doesn’t talk about why,
But I suspect his sleep is not always sweet.

This son, for whom sleep is not a joy,
Did his part to make sure that it could be a joy
For others.

This is not quite laying down one’s life for a friend,
But a pretty close 6-year-old approximation.