Guest Author - Paula Petrie
In 1858, Mother's Day began in the United States when homemaker, Anna “Mother” Jarvis, concerned with insects and polluted water, organized a day to improve the poor health conditions in her community. She called it "Mother's Work Day." Mother Jarvis also worked tirelessly organizing women’s groups to help during the Civil War.
After Anna’s death in 1905, her daughter set out to honor her mother’s memory by having an official “Mother’s Day” created. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother's Day as a national holiday to be held on the anniversary of Anna Jarvis’ death, the 2nd Sunday of May. Mother's Day was honored by attending church and writing letters to mothers.
But later came the cards, presents, and flowers. Anna’s daughter Anna, strongly believed the deeper meaning of Mother’s Day was being lost to the greed and profit of merchants. In a press release Anna Jarvis wrote "What will you do to route charlatans, bandits, pirates, racketeers, kidnappers and other termites that would undermine with their greed one of the finest, noblest and truest movements and celebrations?"
A century later, Mother’s Day is the busiest day of the year for phone companies, and restaurants. It is also one of the top days for florists. I doubt Anna would really begrudge anyone paying special homage to his or her own mother. What would have upset her so? A widespread misuse of the holiday. The nationwide missing of the point!
Of course, showing devotion to our mothers should not be forgotten, or considered less significant, but it may be better to offer a helping hand, time, and open displays of affection every day. There are so many mother’s causes that need the attention of a national day of concern. Possibly Anna’s vision saw Mother’s Day taking this direction.
Yes, we want our mothers to have all the material things in life that they desire. But a soul doesn’t lust and will never be satisfied by goods found in the market place. Great and lasting gifts are the ones that stay our deeper longing and needs. Who hasn’t avoided dealing with difficult and complicated family conversations, choosing instead to show that they care with a gift? Gifts are also frequently substituted for saying the words “I love you.”
Money and material things will only take us so far. I guess Anna Jarvis was trying to get us to see that honoring motherhood should be a sacred act. What we hold valuable and esteem is deeper and beyond what any material offering can touch. Lazy, easy-route approaches to life jeopardize and cheapen our existence. We stagnate instead of advancing as a society. Selling short our souls and buying the quality of our love. Just a thought.
