Why I Pray the Modeh Ani

 

The Modeh Ani is a prayer prayed upon waking (and before getting out of bed) by observant Jews (and some not-so-observant Jews). Following is the prayer and translation:

• Hebrew: מוֹדֶה (מוֹדָה) אֲנִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ מֶֽלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּים. שֶׁהֶֽחֱזַֽרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְחֶמְלָה. רַבָּה אֱמֽוּנָתֶֽךָ׃
• Transliteration: Modeh (modah) ani lifanekha melekh ḥai v'kayam sheheḥezarta bi nishmahti b'ḥemlah, rabah emunatekha.
• Translation: I offer thanks before you, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.

Many cultures and/or religions believed that a person died at night as their soul was breathed out. It was up to God (or dueling spirits or dueling parts of the soul) to allow the soul to return each day. The Christians have a bedtime prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." The Jews have the Modeh Ani. That may be why, in the early days, this was prayed before rising - the belief that waking was the response to their soul returning to them.

I look at the Modeh Ani as a way of acknowledging a new opportunity, a fresh start. Each day, we have an opportunity to make it a good day, to do right, and to make another step toward being a better person. It's also a way of forgiving myself for any mistakes I may have made or opportunities I may have blown off.

I am thankful for the body parts that work. I am able to open my eyes, push myself out of bed, walk to the bathroom, bath, dress and prepare myself for a day of work. I am thankful that I have a job (and I enjoy it). There are many things I see as gifts because I know those who have lost those opportunities. I acknowledge their existence, their contributions to my life that makes me appreciate what I have - as I pray.

The Modeh Ani is a vehicle I use to acknowledge what I have and give thanks.