She was scheduled for bilateral mastectomies.

I lifted her gown to listen to her chest, and was startled to read the words she had carefully inked across her breasts:

On the right: The Lord giveth.
On the left: The Lord taketh away.
And across her abdomen: Blessed be the Lord.

Margie Nairn is a retired nurse and emerging writer in Corvallis, Oregon, where she writes memoir, poetry, and silly limericks for her daughter.