Chaplains are often asked by patients in hospitals to pray with them right before surgery. During this chaplaincy internship during my sabbatical from the newspaper, it has been great to learn prayers from other faith traditions. Some I'm learning from other chaplains, but most from patients and their families who add prayers to mine during visits. The African American families I've listened to pray often ask for very specific blessings during surgery. So this morning, as my friend Chris in Spokane awaits breast cancer surgery, I texted her a prayer borrowing the sentiment from black families here: “Dear God, you give the surgeons steady hands today and get inside the medicine and get the medicine inside the cells and you cure this girlfriend!”/Rebecca Nappi, End Notes.

Question: Do you pray with -- or for -- friends and loved ones facing surgery?