By Danny Minton

When Ann Reeves Jarvis passed away in 1905, she had no idea that her dream of a day honoring mothers would be the reason our modern-day Mother’s Day exists. The actual forerunner of Mother’s Day was Julia Ward Howe, who in 1870 argued that war was an evil that could be prevented and that mothers had a “sacred right” to protect the lives of their sons, proposing a “Mother’s Peace Day.” The first unofficial Mother’s Day was held in June of 1873. Anna Jarvis, Ann’s daughter, remembered her mother praying in a Sunday School class in 1876 that someone would make Mother’s Day an official day to honor mothers everywhere. On May 12, 1907, Anna organized a Mother’s Day memorial for her mother and all those who had worked with her in Grafton, West Virginia. In 1908, Anna decided to find a way to honor her mother and all mothers who made sacrifices for their children. With the financial help of department store giant John Wanamaker, Anna organized a Mother’s Day celebration for all mothers on May 10, held at a Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Another was held at one of Wanamaker’s stores in Philadelphia.

Soon, other cities caught on and began yearly Mother’s Day celebrations. Anna campaigned to make Mother’s Day a National Day of Honor for mothers. She noted that most recognized days were centered on the accomplishments of men and that it was time for women, especially mothers, to be recognized. The dream would come true when President Woodrow Wilson signed an official proclamation on May 9, 1914, establishing the second Sunday in May as officially recognizing that day as National Mother’s Day.

Anna Jarvis, the founder of modern-day Mother’s Day(C) Bettmann/CORBIS via Getty Images

In his newspaper, “The San Francisco Call,” F.W. Kellogg criticized the government’s action, not because he disagreed with honoring mothers on a particular day, but because it didn’t go far enough. He stated that the actual Mother’s Day would be when women were given the right to vote. In his May 15, 1915, paper, Kellogg asked what people had done for their mothers on Mother’s Day, which fell on May 9. He wrote, “The real Mother’s Day will be the day upon which the mothers will get the vote, the right to decide what is to be done with them, with their children, with their property and their laws. As long as mothers are classed in more than half the states with Indians, idiots, and children and not permitted to vote, it is rather a poor joke to talk about Mother’s Day.” Women’s right to vote would not come until the 19^th Amendment was ratified in 1920, and American Indians would not receive citizenship until 1924.

Since its inception, mothers have been honored in celebrations across the nation every May. Church services make special recognition, flowers are given, phone calls crowd the waves, and restaurants are swamped with families honoring the matriarch of the home. Anna became disappointed that the day had become so commercialized, wanting it to remain sentimental in honoring mothers. However, even with commercialism, the day continues as one of the most honored days for mothers, both living and, for many, a day of remembrance of mothers who have passed from this world. 

I read a post on Facebook this week that told the story of a request from a man’s wife. I want to share a compressed version of a longer story. The man came home one evening and his wife told him she wanted him to date another woman. At first, he was stunned by the request, but then his wife explained that she thought he should take his mother on a date. It sounded like a strange idea to him, but he decided to call his mother and ask her out at his wife’s insistence. His mother was shocked at the request but gave in and accepted his invitation.

He arrived at her door, rang the bell, and waited for his mother to answer. She opened the door dressed in one of her finest and favorite dresses, the one she had worn on her last anniversary, with her hair curled and a smile on her face. They arrived at a more sentimental restaurant than fancy, ate their dinner, spending so long talking about all sorts of things that they didn’t make it to the movie. When the check came, his mother wanted to pay, but he insisted that since he asked her out, he would pay. She accepted, but only if he allowed her to call and take him out next time. 

He took her home, kissed her goodbye on the cheek, and watched her walk inside. A few months later, his mother passed away from a massive heart attack. Sometime later, he received an envelope with a restaurant receipt and a note. “I paid this bill in advance. I wasn’t sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates – one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.”

Jesus, in sharing how his death would be accepted, uses the illustration of a woman in childbirth to describe how pain turns to joy. “Whenever a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.” John 16:21 (NASB) Isaiah repeats the words of God describing how He will comfort Jerusalem with that of a mother, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13 (NASB) Mothers may be biological, adoptive, foster, relative, or friend who help rearing a child through the tender years of our lives. They are the ones who share the joy and anguish of our lives, comforting us through it all. 

I want to encourage you to call your mother and make that day your mother’s Mother’s Day. Tell her how much you appreciate and love her. Mother’s Day can be any day you take the time to let her know she’s appreciated every day and always. Do it while you still have the chance.

Like many of you who read this, my wife Kathy and I have only memories of mothers who loved us and cared for us through good days and bad, sickness, joyful times, days of disappointment, and all our ups and downs. No matter how old we are, we are always our mothers’ children. In the same way, no matter how old people’s children are they remain their little boys and girls. One day, like ours, they may be gone. Only memories will remain to remind us of those precious days of laughs, hugs, tears, and a voice saying I love you. Whether your mother is living or gone, forever remember in your heart that she was the first person to love you.

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ