May is for mothers.

Spring. What a great time to celebrate Mother’s Day. Birth Rebirth Mother Earth. We celebrate the relationship between Mother and son, mother and daughter, Grandmother and grandson, Grandmother and granddaughter. We celebrate our ancestor mothers that came before them. Flowers, cards, planting new seeds.

Does anyone know how Mother’s Day started in America? A quick little history lesson…

From the Smithsonian American Women’s history museum website;

From a call for women to improve global policymaking and seek peace to a day to honor women’s work and role in the family, the history of the holiday reveals multiple insights into how mothers shape the world.   

Julia Ward Howe, best known as the author of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” was an abolitionist, a women’s rights advocate, and a peace activist. In 1870, horrified by the death and destruction she had witnessed during the Civil War and concerned by the Franco-Prussian war unfolding abroad, Howe issued what has come to be known as her “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” originally called an “Appeal to womanhood throughout the world.” In it, Howe urged the creation of an international body of women who could find ways to avoid war and bloodshed: 

Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis bore more than a dozen children. Most of the children died from diseases such as diphtheria or measles, which were common during her day in the Appalachian area of Virginia (later West Virginia) where she lived. Jarvis worked hard in her community to try to help other mothers and families avoid the tragedies she had suffered. Part of a national public health movement populated in large part by women reformers, Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Work Clubs” and promoted special “Mother’s Work Days,” when women would collaboratively collect trash and undertake other projects to improve local environmental conditions and their neighbors’ understanding of hygiene.  

When the civil war broke out, Jarvis insisted that the women’s groups she organized help both Confederate and Union troops who were sick or wounded, and she worked to promote peace and unity following the war.

Both Jarvis and Howe shared the belief that women—and especially mothers—were best suited to bring people together with a goal of peace.   

After Ann Jarvis’ death, her daughter, Anna Jarvis, set out to honor her mother’s legacy by establishing a national Mothers’ Day on the second Sunday in May, the day her mother had died.  She chose white carnations as an emblem and urged people to write heartfelt letters of gratitude to their mothers. Anna succeeded in her quest for official recognition, and President Wilson issued a proclamation of the first national Mother’s Day just before the start of World War I in 1914.   

Now let's step forward to modern times. Mothers are still as devout as Julia and Ann. How do we view mothers today? How do we as Spiritualist and healers step up to answer Julia and Ann as mothers and leaders in the community? Women Helping Women. Dress for Success, The Free Store and many more charities. School, church and sports mom volunteers. Let’s bring it into everyday life. Do we give our mothers the credit they deserve? Or do mothers find ways to overcome hardships, love unconditionally and see the silent rewards of their labor?

Mathew 2: 10 - 11

And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Typical...no thank you to Mother Mary for her part in birthing Jesus;) No gifts for Mary! Oh wait, the gift is Christ.

Mothers are a resilient bunch. Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. Taking on the most sacred task as Jesus's mother, did she know what she was in store for? Mary was very supportive of her son Jesus. She was there at the beginning and end of his earthly life. Does any mother know what their baby will be like as they grow? Mothers take on the most loving and generous gift from God. A child, a new life and a new soul.

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