Mother's Day

MOTHER'S DAY

By Mark Mosher

During the days of the Civil War, there arose a brave woman named Anna R. Jarvis. She organized both Union and Confederate mothers of her community in an effort to get the sons together. She was a believer in the power and ability of mothers and always wanted a day set aside to celebrate mothers. Anna R. Jarvis died on the second Sunday in May, 1905. Her daughter, Anna M. Jarvis, then decided there needed to be a day set aside for mothers. She then, out of her own pocket, would purchase carnations and carriages to take the elderly people and invalids to "church" on the second Sunday in May. She did this until her money ran out. One day, a concerned doctor asked welfare to check on her and her invalid sister. They found them nearly dead, almost starved to death. People began to send money to help; before long, the nation was providing money to erect a memorial to mothers. In 1934, the observance of Mother's Day was widespread. It is indeed appropriate to set aside a day to honor mothers. It is a day dedicated to more then spending money. It is an opportunity to give time, honor, and respect for our mothers who gave so much. It seems our holidays have become so commercialized that we lose the meaning behind them. We live in a society that looks down on motherhood. Motherhood is thought to be a punishment by God when, in reality, woman was able to give birth prior to sin and punishment. The Psalmist declared, "Lo children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them" (Psalm 127:3-5).

We indeed owe so much to our mothers that one day a year hardly is sufficient. Think of the various areas of service that has led to our debt:

She is a night watchman - She can hear a child sniffle and cough within seconds. She knows when that child cries out, and while dad is sleeping soundly, takes care of the problems. She even knows when that child gets home too late and has the ability to see in four directions at once.

She is a short-order cook, chef, baker - She knows how to stretch hamburger meat to last many meals. She has 101 recipes for tuna. Yet, she makes every meal special.

She runs a cleaning service - She scrubs the face and ears of little ones. She washes and irons; it is interesting how dad's clothes hit the bathroom floor in the morning and make it back clean and folded by that evening.

She is a bodyguard - She can hold a child on stormy nights or rock a child to sleep who has a bad dream.

She is a doctor - She sees the child through chicken pox, cuts/scrapes, bruises.

She is a medical advisor - She gives advice, such as "don't cross your eyes; they'll stick like that," or, "If you keep scratching it, it won't get better."

She is a veterinarian - She takes in stray dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, guinea pigs, rabbits.

She is an entertainer - She makes every birthday and holiday special, bringing the whole family together.

She is a construction worker - She helps put together those toys you "accidentally" dropped.

She can do all these things because she loves the family enough to sacrifice herself. She does this all without pay and with great sacrifice. I hope you take this time to tell your mother you love her. Have a blessed Mother's Day.