doctor's life support

21st October: Sleep (1) -- Restorer and Healer

He gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2

Sleep is one of God's most wonderful gifts. Much has been written about it that may encourage both doctor and patient. Here are some thoughts:

Sleep, that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care.
The death of each day life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course.
Chief nourisher in life's feast.

Shakespeare, Macbeth

O sleep, O gentle sleep
Nature's soft nurse

Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part II

Now blessing light on him that first invented this same sleep; it
covers a man all over, thoughts and all like a cloak; it is meat
for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, heat for the cold,
and cold for the hot. It is the current coin that purchases all
the pleasures of the world cheap; and it is the balance that sets
the king and the shepherd, the fool and the wise man.

Cervantes

... in so many cases the best way of leading a tired and nervous
person back to health is by teaching him to sleep again.

Walter C Alvarez. Mayo Clinic Physician

The sleep of the labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or
much; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep

Ec 5:12

Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.

Longfellow, The Village Blacksmith

Support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen, and the
evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of
life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a
safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at the last,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John Henry Newman

Further reading: Pr 3:21-24

RRW