There is one thing that occurred to me, Juanita that might help you a little. Scientists who study the brain waves of people who are praying and meditating find a predominance of Theta Waves. Theta Waves are very very close to brain waves of people who are sleeping. So praying and meditating in bed are a really, really good doorway to enter deep sleep. In addition Theta Wave patterns are akin to REM (Rapid Eye Movement ) patterns which we do when we dream. Basically without REM sleep (dreaming) REM sleep we would die; is essential to life. . But praying and meditation are close cousins to dreams. So I believe prayer when you wake would be a really good doorway to falling asleep again, in addition a really good doorway to good , spiritual dreaming, the best kind of sleep. I do night shifts myself so I have great sympathy. I use Melatonin myself from time to time, but I'm sure you have tried this.
Another good thing about waking up in the night is it encourages us to pay attention to our dreams. In ordinary life we just wake up and rush off to work. But when we wake at nighttime getting up is not often an option so we have time to recall and think about our dreams. This is a great, great blessing as many of them are great God sents. The Bible is full from top to bottom with dreams. I read one time of an island in the South Pacific and all the people ever did was to study their dreams. They gathered together and everyone (including their children) would recount their dreams and they would all discuss them. This strikes me as very,very healthy.
I have repeated the Our Father and Hail Mary prayers. I have tried mediation, but it is very difficult for me to do. Thanks for the help
