A Prayer For The Death Of A Loved One

A Prayer for the Death of a Loved One

God, our creator of life

And sustainer of breath

In our own lungs

And in the lungs of our children,

Give us words to say

At the loss of life.

And when we have lost our words,

Give us the gift of presence,

Of sitting in the dark

With an arm around a small shoulder,

Pulling them in

And holding them close.

Give us answers

When we need them,

And may we have the strength

To say “I don’t know”

When we don’t know.

May we remember

That death

Is a part of life

And life

Is a part of death.

May You comfort

The hearts and souls

Of our children

Who wonder

And worry.

May You soothe

Anxieties

And remind us that

Tears are good

And welcome, even—

Reminders that

We feel,

We care,

And we are.

We pray as Jesus prayed:

“On earth as it is in heaven.”

And we find hope

That one day

Every tear will be wiped away.

Help us remember that

Our children are not alone

In this universe.

Guide us

As we enter into painful conversations

With empathy,

Compassion,

And care.

We pray this to the author

And finisher

Of our faith,

In Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Matthew 6:10; Revelation 21:4-5; John 14:1-3; Hebrews 12:2