Mother's Day: The History Of A Beautiful Day

MOTHER'S DAY

The History Of A Beautiful Day

story by Cynthia Ford

Anna Jarvis,

founder of Mother's Day The official celebration of Mother’s Day as we know it dates to the early 1900s. Ironically, the founder of Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, never had children and eventually regretted having Mother’s Day as a Holiday. Anna established Mother’s Day in honor of her mother Ann Reeves-Jarvis, who passed away in May 1905. Her mother gave birth to eleven children and only four survived to adulthood. Mrs. Reeves-Jarvis was a social activist and pulled together a Mother’s Day Work Club to help tackle diseases that caused hardships on families and to bring a sense of unity. Even though Mrs. Reeves-Jarvis is not credited with being the founder of Mother’s Day, her daughter Anna picked up the torch and carried out her mother’s dream.

Anna watched her mother’s efforts and hard work and saw her mother’s pain as she lost several children. She also understood the importance of giving back and recognizing women for their great works. Her mother, Mrs. Ann Reeves Jarvis, planted a seed of hope and laid the foundation for many mothers all over the world. Anna, the blooming flower, took her mother’s wishes and made it a reality. After a Sunday school lesson one day, her mother closed with prayer stating, “I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial Mother’s Day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.” In May of 1908, Anna declared an International Mother’s Day in honor of her mother and all mothers. One of the gifts presented by Anna was white carnations. Recognition of Mother’s Day began to spread, and President Woodrow Wilson officially declared Mother’s Day to be a

national holiday in 1914. In the later years of her life, Anna expressed concern about how Mother’s Day became more commercialized instead of staying within its original intent. Every year, children of all ages search stores and read through cards to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Sometimes we lose the original intent of the holiday by purchasing a gift just to say you have completed the task of purchasing a Mother’s Day gift. Let this year’s gift be purposeful and intentional. Mothers are powerful forces on this earth. We are a force of protection for our children, yet an array of tender love leaving timeless memories. A deep bond and transition occur from the moment we recognize that a child resides in our womb. We automatically shift our lives from the way we eat to being cautious of our daily activities to be a barrier to any potential harm. Call it love, call it instincts, or simply call it being a Mother. Mothering is a beautiful experience. We are our mother’s seed who bloomed into who we are today. If you have lost your mother, Mother’s Day is still for you. Do something special each year to honor her memory and her name. May you find peace and your tribute to your mother bring you everlasting joy. If your mother is alive, make your gift meaningful this time. This Mother’s Day let us honor all mothers. Let their good memory be your strength. Let us honor mothers with a gift that no one can purchase. That gift is time. To my mother Cynthia Rose Ford and my grandmother Lizzie Ford, I love you very much. Thank you for all that you have done for me. Because of you~ I am.