177 - Before Heart Surgery

When I married 26 years ago, I became part of a large extended family. My husband’s mother is one of three sisters, each of whom has three children. The nine first cousins grew up together, though my husband’s family lived about an hour’s drive away from the rest of the clan. There were Nana and Papa Joe, the grandparents, and assorted, more distant cousins. It was daunting to be thrust into this amalgam, coming as I did from a much smaller family.

We are all growing older. There are 13 in my daughter’s generation, all but five of these cousins past b’nai mitzvah age. This past week, my favorite of the Uncles, Jerry, had multiple coronary bypass surgery. It came about suddenly and progressed quickly from abnormal EKG to hospital admission to surgery. So we all have been praying particularly hard this week. That’s when being part of so many holds a distinct advantage.

One Hundred Seventy-Seven

Before Heart Surgery

"Blessed are You, Adonai, the Staff and the Support of the righteous"

Your steadying arm around me,
I travel this trial to wholeness;
You protect me and guard me,
You call my name for healing’s sake.

Your hand to steady these healers,
You illuminate the secret places;
Cast Your restoring light
To guide their actions.

Shield me, support me
For I long for You night and day;
Make of this interlude new blessings:
Refuah sh’lemah.