A Prayer for Travelers

I spent last Sunday night at the Embassy Suites in St. Charles, Missouri. While my family is from the adjacent St. Louis area, I was in town to attend the funeral of my husband's grandmother, who lived her latter (wonderful) years at an apartment building just across the road from and outside of our hotel window. We stayed at that particular place to be within minutes of the various events of the weekend and also to support my father-in-law in this hectic and reflective time.

As much as I love the comforts of home (or of someone's home), it was a good decision. The hotel was nice, and the people who worked there and ran it - even nicer. When we checked into our room, we found something on our pillow that I had never seen before -- and believe me, I have spent many a night in a hotel! It was this Embassy Suites' prayer for "The Stranger within our Gates." They said it had ancient roots...and here is a bit of what it said:

"....because this hotel is a human institution to serve people, and not solely a money-making organization..."(this is how they justified putting a prayer on the pillow)...

"We are all travelers. From 'birth till death' we travel between the eternities. May these days be pleasant for you, profitable for society, helpful for those you meet, and a joy to those who know and love you best."

I love that, which is why I had to write it down and share it. And I thought it perfectly fitting to find on the eve of laying a beloved grandmother to rest after her 90 full years on the planet. Here's to you, Ceal.