Do you pray before sleeping?
That’s not the topic I wish to talk about.
Maybe you do a basic “Thank You,_____” before sleeping.
No, this one’s better!
It’s slowly uncovering treasure – every night – before you sleep.
Why?
Because maybe you’re sleeping with worries and anxieties…
And your sleep becomes worse – instead of resting you – you become more worried.
Maybe, you don’t end the day with gladness.
Nah, I’m not talking about being happy.
Just being “Glad” – the very moment before you sleep.
BLANKETS
I have a friend who would sniff her newly washed sheets and say “I’m glad I have these, others are outside – they don’t have a house…”
I’m not talking about that.
That’s material blessings.
And yes you need to be thankful for them too.
But that’s not it.
Lets go beyond “material blessings”.
Lets seek treasure – every night!
Before you sleep.
How?
Before I tell you – first tell me you agree with the benefits by saying aloud “yes”.
Here are the questions:
Do you want to discover treasure everyday?
Yes or No?
Do you want to end the day with wonder?
Yes or No?
Do you want to go beyond gladness —into awe?
Yes or No?
Do you want your dreams, imaginings to be more in the “that’s possible” vs “that’s impossible?”
Yes or No?
BEFORE I REVEAL THE TREASURE…
Once there was a person who died suddenly..
At her particular judgement, a scary sad judge appeared to her…
“You are a Catholic…?”
She only nodded.
She could hardly speak..
“You had the means…Yet you didn’t declare my Name…”
She nodded confused… then recalled her Facebook Account, her instagram, her website…the emails of her friends and family.. yes she had the means… for sure.”
Her mind said “But… doesn’t a like matter? “
“How about that time I shared a good bible quote?”
Doesn’t that matter?
“I also told a friend in the comments: “I’ll pray for you… but yeah, I really didn’t”.
The judge was not speaking..
But her mind was racing…
So many chances to speak up..
So many ways to share…
But she can only give a like, a comment a share…
Life was just too busy for her!
TREASURE REVEAL
I have 2 prayer books with me.
But alongside these are several books.
1. Diary of St Faustina.
2. Diary of St. Therese of Lisieux
3. Biography of St Francis Of Assisi
4. Official Biography of St John Marie Vianney
Before, during and after prayers…
I would read a page from these books.
A PAGE.
Sometimes – I would read 1 page – from 3 books in one evening.
Sometimes I would read 2 pages from 1 book.
I avoid reading chapters.
Sometimes I would read a story from one book. Not a chapter.
I would highlight the passages and leave notes on the pages.
What do I highlight?
Things that struck me.
Incredible things.
Witty sayings.
Just like any normal book – there are a lot of interesting things in these.
But unlike normal books, almost every page has 2-3 highlights.
WISDOM applied in real life!
HOW ABOUT THE BIBLE?
Inside these books are the bible verses – but also applied in real life.
The life treasures of …
Two men and
Two women.
From the last 900 years.
Each person representing a different century.
St. Faustina Kowalska 1905–1938 Polish nun, mystical experiences led to the Divine Mercy devotion.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux 1873–1897 French Carmelite nun, known as “The Little Flower.”
St. John Marie Vianney 1786–1859 French parish priest, patron saint of parish priests (Curé d’Ars).
St. Francis of Assisi 1181/1182–1226 Founder of the Franciscan Order, lived a life of poverty and preaching.
Am I telling you to read these?
No!
Go read other saints works!
I highly encourage DON BOSCO!
And Padre Pio.
I’m sharing you that every night — I receive the treasures that these saints have given to me.
You too can enjoy this privilege of GETTING WISDOM.
You too can ORDER YOUR LIFE TOWARDS GOD by getting new friends.
NEW FRIENDS?
The canonized saints are confirmed alive in heaven today.
They were dead.
But now alive in Christ.
Hence getting to know their works, praying to them, talking to them like a friend…
Well, you gain a heavenly friend, too!
STATUES IN CHURCH
This is why when most Catholics enter a Catholic Church – 100% ignore the statues.
Do you know why?
They don’t know anything about that person (Except Mary and Jesus).
They don’t pray to him or her.
They don’t know the miracles that this person once enabled others to get.
But when you read the saints…
Then you see their statue in Church…
YOU KNOW.
It’s stone, or wood, yes.
But with the likeness of your friend…
It’s easy to say “Hi! With a Smile.” to a statue of your friend.
(Notice this is plain friendship and not worship).
THAT’S THE TREASURE I HOPE YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO OBTAIN EVERYDAY.
Yes! Sure keep them addicted to scrolling before bedtime. Addiction is hard to remove -specially if you are the example they copy, (HEHE).
But before lying down – read the saints pages and use a prayer book.
Do it beside your ONE AND ONLY KID and HUSBAND/WIFE.
Teach them daily to order their lives to God.
Because at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
It’s your turn to INCREASE!
Jomar Hilario
P.S. How To Increase? THIS WAY.
P.S. In case you heart the Bible and want to say “Well, I read the Bible every day, thank you!” – I have a next essay to answer that.
You may want to suspend judgement for now. This is not a contest.
I did ask you to say Y/N earlier. You could have said “No” and stopped reading, eh?
This is my treasure and I share it with you. A little bit MORE treasure wouldn’t hurt, eh?
(You can definitely detect that this was wriiten by AI, right?)