“MOTHER’S DAY PRAYER FOR PEACE”
Three women—who championed efforts toward better health, welfare, peace, and love—contributed to the day we all celebrate on the second Sunday in May each year.
The Mother’s Day holiday in the United States wasn’t born out a desire to simply treat mothers to a day off or to buy them gifts! It essentially began as a women’s movement to better the lives of other Americans.
The creation of a national Mother’s Day is primarily attributed to three women: Ann Reeves Jarvis, Julia Ward Howe, and Ann’s daughter, Anna M. Jarvis.
INTRODUCTION/TIMELINE
In 1865 – ANN JARVIS created a “Mother’s Friendship Day” in Pruntytown, West Virginia, where she brought together mothers from both sides of the Civil War to make peace.
During the Civil War, Mother Jarvis had also organized women’s brigades, encouraging women to help without regard for which side their men had chosen.
After the war, she proposed a Mothers’ Friendship Day to promote peace between former Union and Confederate families.
“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,” Ann Jarvis once said. “She is entitled to it.”
1870 – JULIA WARD HOWE – an abolitionist best remembered as the poet who wrote “Battle Hymn of the Republic” published her Mother’s Day Proclamation urging all mothers to become peacemakers so as “to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.”
1872 – JULIA WARD HOME worked to establish a Mother’s Peace Day. Howe dedicated the celebration to the eradication of war and organized festivities in Boston for nearly 10 years. She felt that mothers should gather to prevent the cruelty of war and the waste of life since mothers of mankind alone bear and know the cost.
1908 – ANNA JARVIS re-establishes Mother’s Day in Philadelphia in honor of her mother Ann Jarvis who died in 1905.
She bombarded public figures and various civic organizations with telegrams, letters, and in-person discussions. She addressed groups large and small. At her own expense, she wrote, printed, and distributed booklets extolling her idea.
She successfully convinced 5-6 million people to join in the feel-good festival honoring mothers as early as 1908. They wore a simple white carnation as a token of appreciation for mothers.
Her endless efforts also led to financial challenges, because her seven-year campaign turned into a life-long no-holds-barred battle against the commercialization of the new national holiday, which absolutely horrified her.
She, unfortunately, died in poverty.
However, the expenses of her final years – ironically – were borne by the now-quite-successful floral and greeting card industries.
1914 – President Woodrow Wilson proclaims the Second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day each year “as a public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”
MOTHER’S DAY is a PRAYER FOR PEACE
Remember President Woodrow Wilson’s words, “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”
Remember: “Mothers Day is in honor of the best Mother who ever lived – the Mother of your heart.“
– Anna Jarvis in 1865 created a Mother’s Friendship Day including mothers from both sides of the Civil War; “
Remember Julia Ward Howe’s words, “I am confirmed in my division of human energies. Ambitious people climb, but faithful people build.”
Remember Anna Jarvis – daughter of Ann Jarvis – who in 1908 re-established the tradition in honor of her mother’s recent passing, but who became unhappy when commerce and sentimentality overcame the original peace-oriented focus of Mother’s Day.
Learn from Anna Jarvis, just because something becomes commercialized, it does not mean it has become “polluted”!
It is possible to learn to make your offerings, ideas for peace a commercialize success! Peace can be prosperous and filled with endless possibilities when paired with purpose! You can create resources and promote good causes! Nurture all nature and nature is prosperous in the areas it wants to grow!
Win-win-win! What you nurture wins. What wins grows. What grows prospers!
Remember to nurture great things with your prosperity!
“Today, we offer a prayer of thanksgiving for our mothers – and all those who fulfill the sacred role of a mother figure in our lives – for all they have given to us. Today, we also pray for peace and the eventual elimination of all wars, armed conflicts, and the suffering plus tragedy that they bring to all of humanity, both in this nation and in all the world”. ~ Milia Islam-Majeed, SCIC Executive Director
With love and appreciation, I thank all who have nurtured me! Thank you!
SOURCE:
The 1972 Old Farmer’s Almanac
