I am grateful to You, the living Sovereign,
for returning my soul to me as a result of
Your overwhelming compassion for me.
Blessing Said Upon Rising in the Morning
"Many people wake up, jump out of bed, and rush into their morning routine. Sometimes they have pushed the snooze button on their alarm one too many times and they are in a real hurry, so things are even more hectic than usual. A quick shower. Brush the teeth. Shave. Make-up. You know the rest. There are so many details to take care of before we leave the house. Few of us pause to reflect on the wonderment of waking up in the first place. Too many of us drop into bed at night totally exhausted and feeling overwhelmed, and yet we awaken to a new day renewed and refreshed. In our waking moments, we have the opportunity to express our gratitude to God, for restoring our souls to us, giving them back to us in better shape than they once were, certainly in better shape than they were when we went to sleep the night before. For those of us who are not great at constructing meaningful language in the early morning, the Rabbis have helped us out, urging us to recite these words upon rising: 'I am grateful to You, the living Sovereign, for returning my soul to me as a result of Your overwhelming compassion for me.'
"Some people whisper these words to themselves. Others recite them over and over as a kavvanah, a sacred mantra. And some softly sing them to themselves, growing in volume as they regain their strength and become fully awake, repeating them throughout the day. May a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving, whatever the shape of its expression, as well as the expression of wonderment at being alive, find a place in your thoughts throughout your day."
