Motherhood reflects the glory of God. By being our nurturers, people of faith and showing us the goodness of God, our mothers are more than deserving of a dedicated day of celebration.
Mother’s Day can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, where they held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. Today, the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.”
Originating in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, “Mothering Sunday” fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent where the faithful would return to their “mother church” for a special service. Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into more of a temporal holiday. Children and other family members bringing their mothers presents, flowers and tokens of appreciation are now how we see Mother’s Day today.
Dating back to the 19th century, Ann Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe both campaigned different Mother’s Day acts for both women and confederate soldiers. “Mother’s Day Work Clubs,” started by Jarvis, was promoted to teach local women on how to properly care for their children as well as “Mothers’ Friendship Day'' in which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation. “Mother’s Peace Day,” started by Howe, was a call to action to all mothers to unite and promote world peace.
The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Jarvis and Howe. Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Jarvis, continued the tradition of Mother’s Day after her mother’s death in 1905 by upholding the true meaning of Mother’s Day and by honoring the sacrifices mothers make for their children every day.
Whether it is with flowers, jewelry, books or a family outing, continue to show love and honor to your mother in a way that she will appreciate on this Mother’s Day, May 8.