One Friday morning I called my daughters to tell them: “Your mom’s going to die today.” We faced harrowing cross-country trips to be at Ami’s z”l deathbed. Here’s a prayer for travel to a family emergency. This text is less important than the idea: move from fear and worry and into prayer. Word choices are shown with slashes (“/”). The blank line is for including a name. This piece appears in This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day from CCAR Press.

Travel to an Unexpected Family Emergency
Today,
God of Old,
Is a day I never imagined
And never prepared to face.
I am traveling
To be present as my [father/mother/sister/brother/child/wife/husband/partner]
Faces a medical emergency.
My fear is compounded by the stress of travel.
And I feel alone.

G-d of Healing,
Bless __________________________ (name),
With healing of mind,
Healing of body,
And healing of spirit.
Ease his/her pain.
Remove her/his suffering.
Grant him/her courage and endurance
Throughout this challenge.
Bless her/hid doctors with wisdom and skill,
And his/her caregivers with compassion, focus and dedication.
Grant her/him a full and speedy recovery.

Source and Shelter,
Give me the presence of mind
To be a source of wisdom and strength
In this hour of need.
Bless my family with ease and comfort.
Give us energy and endurance,
Hope, tranquility and peace.

Blessed are You, G-d of mystery,
Source of health and healing.

© 2017 CCAR Press from This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day

Postscript: The story of Ami’s death is told in an article in JTA News, with greater detail in the introduction to my book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: Adventist Hinsdale Hospital