Pack, Read, Play…Eat, Sleep and Pray!
        

Our family is in transition again and we are working on keeping the peace amidst all the packing, playing, reading, eating, sleeping, LOTS of family prayer, and for me squeezing in writing time! Not always an easy task.        

Whenever there is change, tempers tend to be quicker to ignite and it’s always a challenge to maintain a high level of “sweetness” in our home.  Uncertainty almost always breeds unrest and in summer time when the heat soars into the 90’s, cranky little people abound.  Thank goodness for a garden hose and a sprinkler!

Most of my challenges come from me not really wanting to do all that I have to do in order to get my family ready for yet another move.  I guess I’m stubborn to the core, but it is clearly imperative to me that unless my attitude is set right, it will be hard for my dear children to feel good about what we are once again embarking on.  This current move is an exciting one, but the drudgery of getting the house packed up again is daunting to say the least.

Time to crank up the A/C and get in touch with Our Lord.  My first line of defense is to go directly to His Mother for assistance.  This is easy in theory, but when it’s hot and everyone is whiny, I tend to forget that the relief I need is right in my rosary beads and on my knees!

When in doubt I go to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  Here is a lovely prayer to get you through trying times, or perhaps even for everyday!

O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke thy most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying. O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let thy name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on thee, for, in all my needs, in all my temptations I shall never cease to call on thee, ever repeating thy sacred name, Mary, Mary.

O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fill my soul when I pronounce thy sacred name, or even only think of thee. I thank God for having given thee, for my good, so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. But I will not be content with merely pronouncing thy name: let my love for thee prompt me ever to hail thee, Mother of Perpetual Help. (ewtn.com)

I will admit, that this prayer has completely changed my attitude for the better.  Keeping somewhat of a routine in our days also lends to a more sane transition.  Our move is pending and we’re not exactly sure where it will be yet, but I know with the Blessed Mother and her Son at my side, all will be well.  I wish you much peace and contentment in your days, wherever they may take you!

Meredith Henning is an Economics graduate of Seattle University with a French Minor. She now home educates her four beautiful children, the oldest being a girl, followed by three boys.  She currently writes about Catholic family life and home education at her weblog Sweetness and Light.  Also this year she spoke at her first Catholic Home Education Conference in Manassas, Virginia.  She is also a recent contributor to the very lovely Christmas weblog O Night Divine hosted by Mary Ellen Barrett.  Married 14 years to her wonderful and dear husband Matthew, she is currently working on a book about Catholic motherhood and home schooling.  Please visit her other weblogs Sweetness in the Kitchen and Threads of Love (a mother and daughter blog).