Prayer After Miscarriage or Stillbirth

“Seeing our days are determined, the number of our months are with You, You set limits that we cannot pass. ”

After Job 14:5

God, we are weary and grieved. We were anticipating the birth of a child, but the promise of life was ended too soon. Our arms yearned to cradle new life, our mouths to sing soft lullabies. Our hearts ache from the emptiness and the silence. We are saddened and we are angry. We weep and we mourn. Weep with us, God, Creator of Life, for the life that could not be.

Source of healing, help us to find healing among those who care for us and those for whom we care. Shelter us under wings of love and help us to stand up again for life even as we mourn our loss.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי זוֹכֵר יְצוּרָיו לְחַיִּים ברַחֲמִים 

Barukh Atah Adonay, zokher y’tzurav l’khayim v’rakhamim.

Blessed are You, Eternal our God, whose compassion renews us unto life (from the High Holiday Amidah [standing prayer]).


Excerpt from Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope by Nina Beth Cardin (Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1999). Permission granted by Jewish Lights Publishing, PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091.

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