A little bit of history. You never know when one small act will grow into a national day to celebrate the blessings of being a mom and the expression of respect, honor, and love towards mothers.
-during the Middle Ages, the custom allowed those who had moved away to visit their parishes and their mothers on Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent.
-Laetare Sunday: In medieval England simnel cakes (special rich fruitcakes) were consumed on this day. In the Anglican churches it is sometimes called Mothering Sunday, with reference to a verse in Galatians (4:27)
-this became Mothering Sunday in Britain, where it continued into modern day although it has largely been replaced by Mother’s day
-what we celebrate today called Mother’s day originated in America
-Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia whose mother organized women’s groups to promote friendship and health so when she passed Anna wanted to honor her mother. She held a memorial service at her late mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia on May 12, 1907
-that small memorial service has grown into what we know now as Mother’s day
-Jarvis promoted the wearing of a white carnation as a tribute to one’s mother
-the custom developed wearing a red or pink carnation to represent a living mother or a white carnation for a mother who was deceased
-president Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday in 1914
-Twist: Jarvis didn’t like how the day became commercialized that associated the day with sending cards and giving gifts. She spent her last years of her life trying to abolish the holiday she brought into being in protest against its commercialization.
***side note: Greeks and Romans paid tribute to mother goddesses. India still has a festival honoring the goddess Durga.
In the book of Proverbs is chapter 31. It is an epilogue to the character of a noble woman
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
As we reflect on our valued mothers, here is a reminder that we are also valued children:
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139: 13-14).
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1: 5).
Blessings and prayers to each of you today. May today be filled with love and appreciation. May we appreciate those who fill our hearts with gladness and support who we are meant to be in the future.
dreamsdontfade.com
The song “Priceless” by For King & Country is a reminder of our self-worth when we see ourselves through the eyes of God who sees us as precious and beyond valuable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu5HGgrskQg