A Survivor's Prayer

Recently I was asked to give a table blessing at Relay for Life Survivor's Dinner. I've never survived cancer but my dad has. I tried to write the words I thought he would like to share. This is what emerged.

A Survivor's Prayer

God, I do not know what to say. Except, of course, "life is beautiful"

I do not think of it often. But sometimes when it's quiet,

I pause,

I think,

of think I might not have seen,

ballgames, band concerts, graduations, weddings, birthdays,

daughters becoming mothers and aunts,

sons becoming fathers and uncles,

grand-kids.

O God, my grand-kids!

And a million other things I would have missed. And I'm

humbled.

And I'm confused.

And I'm happy.

I'm oh so happy!

Thankful to be here. Thankful for this food. Thankful to be surrounded

by so many others who are

thankful too.

So let us celebrate. And let us dance.

And let us eat and be merry!

Because I've seen all that

which I should not have seen.

May thanksgiving be forever in my heart!

Amen.

Dry Bones

In the yard stood a sapling.

Its slim tender branches had been nipped by deer.

They had made a meal of its bark as well.

And the rabbits had nibbled away at its base.

God said to Ezekiel, "Mortal, can these bones live?"

It was a stick really; just a twig.

Except it lay vertical instead of horizontal

But in the spring it grew new bark.

It sprouted new leaves and dropped new fruit.

Ezekiel said in reply, "O Lord God, you know."