In late March 2020, our hospital system began a new project, a daily internal TV program with a conversation between a host and a number of coworkers. Each episode ended with a prayer from a chaplain. I was part of the process and wrote out the prayers that I then prayed on the “The Daily Dose.”

All those prayers and reflections from that time are in God. We Still Need You: A Year of Pandemic Prayer and Practice from a Hospital Chaplain.

This week, I was thinking about writing a prayer asking God to help us smile. And then I found this one, written in July of 2020, but still helpful.

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God.

As chaplains, we remember to weep with those who weep.

But some of us are not as good at rejoicing with those who rejoice. And each day with our coworkers, we see many opportunities to rejoice.

We watch people figure things out.

We watch people care for messy things.

We hear people find the right words.

We see people day after day, in simple ways, offer excellent care.

In the middle of difficulty, we can rejoice in good work, in diligent use of the skills and experience you have given.

Help us, God, to help each other see reasons to rejoice.

Even as we pray together right now.

Amen.