Prayer for a Peaceful Passing
I wrote this for my dear friend Jenny and for her family to say around her bedside. Jenny was a remarkable human being who cheered dozens, maybe hundreds of fellow patients on during her more than 5 year battle with brain cancer. Her family is from a Roman Catholic background and wanted a theistic prayer in which they could participate.
Prayer for a Peaceful Passing
(for Jenny)
Loving God, Spirit of Life
Be with us in this time of need
As Jennifer’s beautiful Spirit departs her body
And joins with you in Love.
Loving God, Hear our prayer.
Help us in our grief to remember
That Love is not measured in the years given
But in the Love shared
And that Jenny’s Heart lived a fullness of life
And gave of Love far beyond her too brief years.
Loving God, Hear our prayer.
Although we are grieving,
We give thanks that we were given her at all:
A beautiful baby, a bright and vibrant child,
An exuberant teenager and a remarkable woman –
Who touched us all with her joy, her kindness,
her capacity for love, her creativity,
her optimism, her patience
and ultimately, her astonishing courage.
Loving God, Hear our prayer.
Give her peace in her passing,
Release her from illness
and restore her to Everlasting Life
where she may be a Spirit who guides and helps us
through this trying time.
Loving God, Hear our prayer.
Be with us in the circle that gathers
around her now in this room
and in ripples moving outward from it –
To friends, family – all whom she touched,
all she loved and who loved her in return
May everyone be included in this circle of Love and support.
Loving God, Hear our prayer.
As we say goodbye,
let it be a goodbye only to
the trial and suffering of these last days
and may our Jenny full of life
be restored to our eyes and minds and hearts
Loving God, Hear our prayer.
Now there is no more pain and confusion
There is only the certainty of Love
And the memories of a wonderful daughter and grand-daughter,
sister, niece, aunt and dear, dear friend.
Our Love for her will be with us always.
Loving God, Hear our prayer.
And in your Love, answer
Accept our Jenny into your arms
For she is your Jenny, too
Now and Forever.
Amen.