Mother’s Day comes on Sunday, May 12 this year……. right around the corner!
by Ruth Storkel.
I imagine some families are already making plans………. dinner at a restaurant, buying flowers or making a special cake, or giving Mom breakfast in bed. Whether your plans are elaborate or simple, you can be sure the woman you call “Mother” will feel blessed by your efforts.
Remember the old rhyme: “From early morn’ ’til setting sun, a mother’s work is never done”? It’s so true! I recall childhood days, hearing my mother still up walking around in the house, working after I was tucked into bed. “WHAT is she doing?” I pondered. “Why doesn’t she go to bed, too?” I learned that she often stayed up ironing in the evenings and doing other things she couldn’t accomplish during the day. Children tend to take their parents for granted, not realizing how much time and sacrifice they give.
Every Day is “Children’s Day”
As a child, I would sometimes look at the calendar and think, “They have a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day……….. why is there no Children’s Day?” I asked my mother about this several times, and her answer was always, “EVERY DAY is children’s day!” Now, having experienced parenthood myself, I understand her point of view much better, although I certainly could never totally relate; she had eight children to care for, and I did not.
Evolution of Mother’s Day
Our Mother’s Day holiday has undergone an evolution of changes, being “bruised and battered” at times before arriving in the condition we find it today.
Anna Maria Jarvis was founder of the holiday in the United States, honoring her mother Anna Jarvis’ request that “someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother’s day commemorating her ( and all mothers) for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life”. It was not until three years after her mother’s death that, on May 10, 1908, daughter Anna Maria held a memorial service to honor her mother and all mothers.
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first congressional resolution and presidential proclamation, asking all citizens to fly the flag to honor mothers in this country.
Anna Maria Jarvis had written to governors from every state (along with other influential persons) urging them to adopt the holiday. Upon becoming a recognized national holiday, Mother’s Day quickly became commercialized, much to Jarvis’ dismay; eventually, she took steps to have the holiday “rescinded”(which did not happen).
She also dealt with competition from people like New York City philanthropist Robert Spero, who in 1924 provided “competition” for Mother’s Day with the idea of a “Parents’ Day” celebration, complete with parades, rallies, and outdoor festivities. One New York official felt men also needed to be honored (he was confident that New York State mothers would not complain about sharing “their holiday” with fathers.) In New York State and on the national level, Spero’s planned “Parents’ Day” failed to catch on, fading away in the 1940s, and instead, a national Father’s Day grew in popularity. Mother’s Day also survived.
Song for “MOTHER”
Mother’s Day has been celebrated for over 100 years now. We hope it is a delightful day for all mothers! As we approach Mother’s Day, perhaps we could take time out to write down a few things we appreciate about our mothers (as did this song from 1915 by Howard Johnsons and Theodore Morse. I remember teachers helping us practice this song in grade school in preparation for a Mother’s Day program.)
“M O T H E R” (by Howard Johnsons and Theodore Morse)
M is for the million things she gave me,
O is only that she’s growing old.
T is for the tears she shed to save me,
H is for her heart of purest gold.
E is for her eyes of lovelight shining,
R means right, and right she’ll always be.
Put them all together, they spell “MOTHER.”
The word that means the world to me.
Prayer for all mothers everywhere…
“PRAYER FOR MOTHERS” (by Georgia Harkness)
“Dear God, we thank Thee for the mothers of this and every generation! In their love and fidelity we see that which on earth is closest to Thy nature.
“As each of us turns in thought to his own mother, may we be loyal to the best she taught us. We thank Thee that in her we have the gift of God.
“Be with all mothers. Help them to rear the children entrusted to them in health of body, mind, and soul. Show them how to open the eyes of the young to the rich beauties of Thy world, the treasures hid in great books, the richness of soul in all Thy people in whatever color, race, or nation. May their children, looking to them, see Thee and be led to follow Thee.
“Amen.”
