A Bedside Service of Blessing and Thanksgiving
Opening Words
Chaplain or Leader:
We gather in stillness, not to solve or explain,
but to honour the quiet work of care.
In this place—this ward, this chair, this corridor—
we are not alone.
We are carried by presence, by kindness, by one another.
All (if appropriate):
We are carried.
And we carry others.
Thanksgiving for the Ministry of Care
Chaplain:
For every nurse who stayed past shift end,
For every carer who forgot their own hunger,
For every patient who endured with dignity,
For every chaplain who listened without needing answers,
For every companion who stayed quietly nearby—
All:
We give thanks.
Chaplain:
For the stories shared, the tears held, the laughter offered,
For the Circuit of Care that binds us—
visible and invisible—
All:
We give thanks.
Prayers of Blessing
These may be spoken aloud, offered silently, or adapted for individual bedside use.
Blessing for the Weary Patient
When the world grows loud and words slip away,
may silence become sanctuary.
Blessed are you who rest when the noise is too much.
May your quiet be received as prayer,
and may peace find you gently.
Blessing for the Fatigued
When your body sags and your spirit flickers,
may rest come without shame.
Blessed are you who allow yourself to be held.
May tenderness meet your weariness,
and may joy return like breath after sleep.
Blessing for the Grieving Nurse
When sorrow finds you in hidden corners,
may mercy meet you there.
Blessed are you who stay through the ache.
May your own heart be tended with grace,
and may you remember: healing belongs to you too.
Blessing for the Overextended Carer
When care for others eclipses care for yourself,
may compassion turn inward.
Blessed are you who give without counting.
May steadiness return to your steps,
and nourishment come without guilt.
Blessing for the Overwhelmed Recipient
When the facts are too many and the feelings too vast,
may wisdom walk beside you.
Blessed are you who face what cannot be fixed.
May clarity and comfort hold you together,
until your own rhythm returns.
Blessing for the Nurse Who Has Seen Too Much
When dignity feels distant and endings weigh heavy,
may rest find you in quiet places.
Blessed are you who carry others through their final moments.
May your own sorrow be seen and honoured,
and may a warm cup remind you: you are not alone.
Blessing for the Legacy-Bearer
When your offerings feel forgotten and your stories fade into silence,
may reverence rise to meet you.
Blessed are you who sow grace in hidden places.
May your legacy be cradled with tenderness,
and may you know: nothing given in love is ever lost.
Optional Reflection
Invite a moment of silence.
Offer a candle, a knitted square, or a simple phrase:
“You are seen.”
“You are carried.”
“You are not alone.”
Closing Words
Chaplain:
We go now, not fixed but held.
Not alone, but accompanied.
Not empty, but blessed.
All:
We are carried.
And we carry others.
The background
In places where care is constant and silence often holds more than words, we need language that honours the unseen. These blessings and thanksgivings were written for those who carry and are carried—nurses, patients, chaplains, carers, and companions. They offer gentle recognition for moments of weariness, grief, and quiet hope. May they be used at the bedside, in staff rooms, or wherever someone needs to be reminded: you are not alone, and what you offer matters.
Now the book…
Carried: The Bears’ Book of Blessings gathers tender stories and whispered prayers from the Bears who carry. Each tale—whether Otto’s sensory adaptation, Gregory’s forgiveness, or Custard’s calm—is followed by a blessing that honours, accompanies, and offers warmth where words falter.
At its heart is Carried, a liturgy first shared on NeuroDivine.blog, naming the sacred fatigue of caregivers, the quiet strength of patients, and the grace of companions who wait without answers. Together, these blessings form a Bedside Service of Blessing and Thanksgiving—a quilt of prayer for the weary, the waiting, and the ones who carry and are carried.
This book is a candle at the edge of story and prayer, reminding us: you are seen, you are held, you are not alone.
Buy the book at lulu.com.
NeuroDivine 