Celebrate Mother’s Day
On May 12, 2024 we will celebrate Mother’s Day in our country. You will probably think of honoring your own birth mom. Or the adoptive mom, foster mom, stepmom, grandmother or aunt who “mothered” you. Or maybe you had a special “spiritual” mom who taught and encouraged you in your Christian walk. I am glad there is a day set aside nationally to pay tribute to them.
Most of us had wonderful nurturing mothers. Sadly, some did not. Did you notice it is singular? Mother’s Day. Special for your special mom. You shower her with hugs and gifts. Restaurants report it as their best day of the year. More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. We do it to honor those women who put up with us—and loved us—all those years.
Mothers in ages past…Have you ever considered being grateful that the Virgin Mary was willing to be the mother of Jesus? Or have you pondered how Jesus Himself, even while dying on the cross, lovingly thought of His mother? We read His words in John.
“So Jesus, seeing His mother, and the disciple whom He loved (esteemed) standing near, said to His mother, “[Dear] woman, look, [here is] your son!” Then He said to the disciple (John), “Look! [here is] your mother [protect and provide for her]!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own home.” (John 19:25-26 AMP)
What love! What devotion! What an example!
How about Biblical moms? Sarah birthing Isaac in her old age. Hannah giving us the prophet Samuel. Elizabeth, having John the Baptist. Eunice and Lois, a mother and grandmother, who raised a godly Timothy, who became a spiritual son to Apostle Paul. Named and unnamed mothers are throughout the Bible—some were Jesus’ devoted followers.
Think of Susanna Wesley (1669-1742), who gave birth to 19 children (only 9 reached adulthood)– among them John and Charles. John, known for starting the Methodist movement, and Charles for writing several thousand hymns. Mothers long since gone from the earth—but remembered, nonetheless.
In America the “original” Mother’s Day was observed in St. Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia on May 10, 1908 –spearheaded by Anna Jarvis as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. But primarily to honor her own mother, Ann Marie Reese Jarvis, who died in 1905. She had taught Sunday school classes 20 years and was a peace advocate who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the Civil War. In 1868 she organized “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children. 1
Another advocate for honoring mothers came from the abolitionist and suffragette, Julia Ward Howe, who wrote in 1870 a “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” that asked mothers to unite in promoting world peace 2 She also wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
Gradually some of the 45 states began to adopt their own versions of Mother’s Day celebrations. But Anna Jarvis’ dream came true on May 9, 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a national day on the second Sunday of every May to honor motherhood. Wilson had lobbied Congress for such an official day. In his first proclamation he stated, “that the holiday offered a chance to [publicly express] our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” He also saw it as a way to honor mothers who had lost sons during World War I. 3
“Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution, do hereby direct the government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” 4 Thus, flags flew across the nation.
Anna said a mother is “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.”She pictured people going to church and wearing a white carnation to indicate that they celebrated their mom. But she fought hard against the day becoming a secular and commercially successful one. 5
Display flags. Wear white carnations. Buy gifts. Take mom out to eat. The traditions in America have changed over the years and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
What about those of us who no longer have our precious moms? We can spend that day remembering them. And thanking God for their sacrifices, influence, and prayers.
Have you given thought about sending a note of appreciation to elderly moms who have influenced you too? Maybe counseled or prayed you through a difficult season of your life? Or encouraged you in your career, or Christian journey? Someone else’s mom who nevertheless took time to care for you? Cards and phone calls can brighten their day and make them feel appreciated and special too.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our mothers. We realize without them we would not have been born. We are so grateful for mothers who made sacrifices to see us through challenging times as well as triumphant times. Forgive us for the way we sometimes took them for granted or disobeyed them or neglected to express our love and thanks. Show us creative ways to honor them. May we teach our children and grandchildren how to bless the mothers and grandmothers who have gone before them—especially for those who left footsteps of faith for them to follow. The trailblazers. Thank You for Jesus who took away our sins and gives us a promise of life after this one. Amen.
Scripture: “Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother—this is the first commandment with a promise—That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.” (Eph.6:2-3 AMPC)
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