The origins of Mother's Day can be traced back to ancient Greece and their spring celebrations in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.
In 1600's England celebrated something called "Mothering Sunday" on the 4th Sunday of the month. The servants had that day off and were encouraged to travel to see and spend time with their mother. Sometimes they even brought a mothering cake to add a festive touch.
As Christianity spread the holiday was used to honor the
"Mother Church - the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm"
That doesn't sound too swift!
This was combined with Mothering Sunday and people started honoring their own mothers as well has the church.
Julia Ward Howe (Battle Hymn's author) began to suggest celebrating Mother's Day in America back in 1872. Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, campaigned to make it a national holiday in 1907 and even convinced her late mother's church in Grafton, WV to observe on Mother's Day on the second Sunday of the month on the second annyversary of her death. In 1911, after Ana wrote petitioning pastors, business men, politicians, most of the country was celebrating Mother's Day. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day a national holiday.
So today we have a commercialized Mother's Day. Everyone sends a Hallmark and buys flowers and other small gifts.
Thor Ramsey on the show 'Bananas' complained about Mother's Day cards. He waved his arms wildly in the shape of those elegant swirlly embelishments while saying 'to the best mother in the the world'. He stopped and said, "why can't they just say 'you did the best you could?' ". lol Ok, so maybe you had to be there....
In conclusion I believe my mom (and dad) should be honored everyday not just one or two days a year. Doesn't the Bible say 'Honor your father and mother'?
Prov 17:6
Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
NIV
No comments:
Post a Comment