Traveling Mercies

When I wrote "Our Lady of Perpetual Help" a few weeks ago, I didn't realize it would post on the very day we concluded our seven-day cross-country road trip, which at the outset we titled the "Jet Setting is for Sissies Road Tour 2008."

This trip has been one long adventure in motherhood ... particularly in relying upon the spiritual motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Each day we found reasons to send an SOS heavenward.

And today ... we've already started up the litany. For we are heading home.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.
As cries of starvation and parchment resound, pray for us.
As whining for more videos and treats abound, pray for us.
As tempers flare, and mothers dare
to contemplate tying small children
to rooftop luggage racks, pray for us.

Keep us safe. Keep us alert.
Keep us from going from good to worse.
Keep our screaming in our heads,
until we get them all in their beds.
Oh, Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.