A Prayer for the Dying and Those Who Keep Watch

A hospice prayer for someone nearing the end of life, and for the family keeping watch beside them.

Nishmat Neshamot (Soul of All Souls),

You Who breathed into us the Breath of Life,

We stand at the thinning edge of breath and being,

Where love grows louder as words grow fewer,

Where a lifetime of loving still glows as the day leans toward dusk.

For this gentle soul,

May the pain loosen its grip, may fear soften into calm,

May memory become music, familiar and forgiving,

And the light he has kindled be the light that eventually carries him Home.

Wrap him in shalom (peace), wide and warm,

In menuchah (rest) that asks nothing more of him.

May his neshamah (soul) remember its Source,

Knowing he is held, never hurried, never alone.

And for his family, standing watch with aching hearts,

Give strength without hardness, tears without shame,

And courage to say “I love you,” “Thank you,”

And, when the time comes, “It’s okay to go.”

Love spoken aloud,

Love whispered into silence.

May they feel You near, Breath of All,

In each hand held, each story told, each goodbye graciously given,

Through exhaustion, anger, fear, and sorrow.

And even when gratitude and grief share the same trembling heart,

May love, enduring love, become their shelter against the storm.

Baruch Atah Adonai,

Blessed are You, Holy One, Who holds us

When our hearts are breaking,

And we cannot bear to let go.

Amen.