First, I would like to start off with some of the more recent history behind today's Mother's Day occasions celebrated worldwide.
United Kingdom
Known as Mothering Sunday, the holiday's origins are said to date back centuries to when it was considered important for churchgoers to visit their home or "mother" church once a year. Observed during Lent, the practice became commonplace, and in a society where children were often sent off to work in other villages at a very young age, it quickly became a cherished time for family reunions and celebrations. Tradition has it that while returning home, children would pick violets or other flowers growing wild along country lanes to take to church and give to their mothers. A special cake might also be brought along to provide a festive touch. Later, Mothering Sunday became a day when children and domestic servants were allowed a day off to see their family. Celebrated the fourth Sunday of Lent, Mothering Sunday remains a time to recognize mothers for all their love and support with fresh flowers, sweets, cards, and other tokens of appreciation.
United States
It's said that Mother's Day was first suggested in the United Sates by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 as a day dedicated to peace after the Franco Prussian War. Ironically, the idea waned in popularity in the years before World War I. The holiday was revived thanks to Anna M. Jarvis. Anna's dear mother was a minister's daughter and Sunday School teacher from West Virginia who graduated from an all female seminary, organized women's brigades during the Civil War to care for soldiers on both sides of the conflict, and ultimately settled in Philadelphia. Anna was twelve when she heard her mother teach a Sunday School lesson on mothers in the Bible. Still unmarried when her mother passed away in 1905, Anna was left alone with her blind sister Elsinore. She missed her mother dearly and felt we all too often fail to appreciate our mothers enough while they are alive. So, with the help of friends, Anna began a letter-writing campaign to garner support for a national Mother's Day holiday. Reaching out to influential leaders, including William Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, and John Wannamaker, Anna poured out a stream of solicitations for support of the idea. She believed, mothers deserved their own special day and that it would help strengthen family bonds.
She persuaded her mother's church in West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. Carnations, her mother's favorite flowers, were supplied at that first service by Anna. White carnations were chosen because they represented the sweetness, purity and endurance of mother love. Over time, pink or red carnations became the symbol of a living mother, with white ones signifying those who had passed on. By 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state, and flowers quickly became a lasting tradition to express love on the occasion. In 1914, Congress passed a resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, "a public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of our country." President Woodrow Wilson issued the first proclamation making it an official U.S. holiday.
Other countries that celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May include: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan, and Turkey.
Mexico
Mother's Day, or Dia de las Madres, is May 10 in Mexico. It's a hugely popular occasion celebrated throughout the country, with special events sponsored by schools, churches, cities, and civic groups. The family tradition is for sons and daughters to come to their mother's house on the eve of Mother's Day (May 9). Festive Mother's Day masses, handmade gifts, flowers, cards, and childrens' school presentations are also often part of the nationwide observance.
I thought it would be nice for some of us to know the history of where and how the celebration of Mother’s Day came about. Often we just do things because we were born into the tradition without knowing why.
As a woman who over the years has helped women in crisis and need, I have seen the flip side of Mother’s Day. I’ve seen the tears, sadness, and heartache this day brings to women. The woman whose only child died, the woman who has had miscarriage after miscarriage and is still motherless, the woman who is separated from her child or children, the forgotten mother in the nursing home, the mother whose child is in jail, the mother whose son is at war, the mother whose child is missing, the mother whose child is strung out on drugs, the mother whose child will not forgive her, the woman whose child is living a life of sin, the woman who does not have a mother or children. And last but not least, the children who are separated from their mother in foster care, the children whose mother is in jail, the children whose mother is strung out on drugs, the children who are being abused by their mother. The celebration of Mother’s Day brings heartache and pain to them also.
Though Anna M. Jarvis thought she was doing something good, (which seemed to originate from her own guilt and loneliness) but as a Christian, the Bible instructs us how to deal with our parents, and if we follow that instruction, then we should not fail to appreciate our mothers enough while they are alive. We really don’t need a day to say I appreciate you. It should be every day as we strive to obey the first commandment with a promise…Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long. Exodus 20:12
In America we have deviated so far from the original purpose of most things and Mother’s Day like any other manmade holiday in our country has become commercialized and all about the money. But I wonder what would happen if someone (like an Anna M. Jarvis) started a campaign for Christians to take all the money they would spend for Mother’s Day and sow it into the Kingdom of God? I wonder how great an impact we would make to help others in need and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ if we did that? What if we went to visit the widows (those in nursing homes) and sent money to the missionaries who are building orphanages (the fatherless) in other countries, instead of standing in long lines waiting to be seated at our favorite restaurant? What if we start that campaign now (and if Jesus should tarry and we are here this time next year), and petition the women in the Church to relinquish their Mother Day’s gifts for 2011 and give to others to better the kingdom of God. Anyone up for that? ~Smile~
God made “Woman” and in His Kingdom, those who have been called not to be mothers are not less than those who have. But we (mankind) have made a distinction of the two. So since God is not a respecter of persons He would not sanction a day that honors some women and not others. Since the beginning of time there have been many of God’s daughters whose life and ministry has been touching and enhancing the lives of children everyday and they never gave birth. What about them?
On Mother’s Day in Philadelphia, I know several women who will be running the Susan G. Koman, race to raise money for the cure of cancer. Let’s take their lead and begin to change our mindset and come out from the things of the world and focus more on what we can do to enhance the Kingdom of God on this earth. If you have been watchful then you have noticed that time is getting shorter.
Kudos to ALL Women, because God has made us ALL great and equal!!!
Blessings & Love
Ponnie
Friday’s Blog: We have a special treat for you tomorrow! Pam Davis will be joining us again and I tell you sisters, you won't want to miss it. She’s brought a dish of great inspiration to the table so please remember to stop by and spend a moment to share it with her.
