As we know in the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May. Why is this national holiday celebrated only on Sunday, and why not on another day of the week? Are there any reasons to honor our mothers only on Sunday? Why is the mother of the family a unique person?
Yesterday, Time magazine on their website published an article titled “The Surprisingly Sad Origins of Mother’s Day.” In this article Olivia B. Waxman writes “Perhaps it’s appropriate that the day on which Americans celebrate mothers has an odd set of parents: President Woodrow Wilson is usually seen as the “father” of Mother’s Day — for signing a proclamation on May 9, 1914, declaring the second Sunday of May “a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country” — while copywriter Anna Jarvis is usually seen as the “mother” of Mother’s Day, for creating the movement that led to the proclamation.”
As King Solomon states “Everything has its time (Ecc.3:1 NKJV);” hence, is it possible to think that this was the “right time” for President Woodrow Wilson to designate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May, after witnessing Anna Jarvis’s efforts and good cause for the society.
As we know Anna Jarvis, who first started the movement in 1905 and held a memorial service for her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis in 1908 at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, and President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914 designating Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May.
According to the published articles, Ann Reeves Jarvis, mother of Anna Jarvis, was a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War and created Mother’s Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. I’m sure prior to 1908 many others must have thought about honoring mothers. Even “Time Magazine’s” same articles indicated that around the same time Ann Jarvis started Mother’s Day Work Clubs, Julia Ward Howe, writer of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” had started a “Mother’s Peace Day,” inspired by the Civil War.
However, it was Ann Jarvis’ daughter Anna’s efforts to honor her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honor all mothers because she believed a mother is the “person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.” We see the efforts and good cause of Anna Jarvis in helping mothers and children on health and welfare issues led to this celebration.
When we read about President Woodrow Wilson’s history, it is very interesting to note that he grew up in a Presbyterian Church minister’s family, his father Joseph Ruggles Wilson was a minister. Even his mother Jessie Janet’s father, Rev. Dr. Thomas Wood was a minister. This indicates that President Woodrow Wilson must have been influenced by his parent’s “faith in God of the Bible.”
I’m sure President Wilson would have chosen another day, but there was a reason why he chose Sunday for this celebration. Therefore, in my opinion, this was God’s anointed time and day for honoring and thanking Him for providing us great mothers, who influenced our lives. It’s a reminder for all of us that in the first book of the Bible, “Adam called his wife’s name Eve because she was the mother of all living (Gen.3:20 NKJV).”
Today 40-plus countries throughout the world are celebrating Mother’s Day, but when we think about the main reason behind this celebration, it should reflect one’s good deeds for society. As we know many parts of the world where poor mothers and children are suffering, especially in most war-torn and underdeveloped countries due to various reasons. How can they celebrate this day, when most of the mothers lost their own children and vice versa?
Today, CNN published an article titled “The woman who invented Mother’s Day came to hate it.” In this article, Kendall Trammell writes, “Jarvis couldn’t stand the idea of people spending so much money on extravagant flower arrangements, sappy greeting cards, and overly priced chocolates.” According to the historical records, Anna Jarvis protested this commercial exploitation of the Mother’s Day celebration. In fact, her intention of the Mother’s Day celebration was to promote the health and welfare of mothers and children.
Why are we deviating from this good cause? How concerned are we about the poor and neglected mothers and children in the war-torn and poor countries of the world? Why can’t the civilized and educated societies of the modern world continue the good cause that Anna Jarvis has started, rather than just wasting money on material things?
CNN article stated that “today, more people purchase flowers and plants for Mother’s Day than for any other holiday except Christmas/Hanukkah. This year alone, Americans will spend $23.1 billion on the holiday. And most of that money will be spent on jewelry: $4.6 billion.”
As we know Ann Reeves Jarvis (Anna’s mother) started her sincere service during the American Civil War and took care of the wounded soldiers. Sometimes it is very difficult for us to understand how one person started this movement in those days when women had limited freedom in society.
However, in the 21st century, I think it is our responsibility to continue the cause that she started. Therefore, on this Mother’s Day, it would be better for us to be mindful of mothers and children in the world who are suffering.
Yes, God has richly blessed us with mothers and children, but I think we should be concerned about others too. For Christian Sunday is a special day; therefore, I think President Woodrow Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day with an understanding that believers can continue the good cause for the society. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27 NIV).” With God’s help, let us continue the work.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in the world!
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