A mother’s love begins when the unborn child grows in the womb and draws nutrients from her for about 36 weeks. She continues to nurture her child from birth till death because motherhood is for life. A good mother provides the basic needs of her child. She teaches honesty, tics and domestic care. She is kind, patient and does not seek her own (1 Cor. 13;7) but sacrifices even at the risk of her life for her children. A good mother opens her mouth with wisdom and fruitful instruction. She watches over her household. (Pr. 31;26-27). She has amazing compassion never forgetting her children. (Is. 66;13)
Mother Theresa says a mother’s love is in action. She loves with her heart and feels through her eyes. She is the family’s repository for anger, conflicts and hurt. She is the cement that keeps her family together and her love lasts a lifetime . A mother is therefore the foundation of love and therefore deserves appreciation and honour.
History of Celebration
Modern Day celebration of Mothers’ Day is attributed to Annier Javis who in 1908 organized a Memorial Service for her late mother. The fact however is that Mother’s Day celebration actually started in the Catholic Church in the middle ages when Catholics who worked outside their hometown were permitted to visit their Churches and Mothers during a period in May each year usually on the fourth Sunday of Lent. The Catholic Church is always the first and the best because it was founded by Christ Himself (Mat.16;18).
The men usually picked flowers from the verges along the way and left them in the Church or gave them to their mothers. Today, Mothers’ Day is celebrated in almost everywhere in the world and many have different ways of celebrating the occasion.
Some Simple Ways of Celebration
Make time for your mother to be reconnected with her. Walk through your journey of life. Talk about your past, present and future. Talk about your strengths, opportunities, and threats and resolve to stay strong as a family.
Send gifts you can afford. It is not how expensive the item is but the intention behind it. The best gift you could offer is to give up a lifestyle your mother abhors. Resolve to do your best in every area of your life especially to be more committed to your Catholic faith. Happily, many clients have been motivated to give up some bad habits to honour their mothers.
Pray for your mother that God gives her the grace to stand strong in motherhood. If she has offended you in any way, this is an opportune time to forgive her. The fact is that there are good mothers and bad ones. If your mother was not there for you and you still made it, then thank God because her neglect made you stronger and wiser to fight on. No matter what your mother has done, God commands you to forgive her otherwise He will not forgive you (Mt. 6;12). Keeping hurts of a Mother clouds your mind from the beauty of love as Christ loved us. Forgive whatever grievances you have against each other. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col 3; 13).
No one forgets the love shown by her mother – the sleepless nights and entering our doors when everyone is leaving. In Ghana, we know countless cases of mothers selling their properties to send their children to school when fathers who may be rich spend their monies on frivolous matters. No wonder we read many quotes on mothers as foundation of love. God could not be everywhere and therefore He made mothers (Rudyard Kiplig). A good mother is irreplaceable (Adriana Tinges).
Mother is the name of God on the lips of little children (William Thackeray) if love is as sweet as a flower, my Mother is that sweet flower (Steve Wadel). We are born of love. Love is our mother ( Rumi)
As we celebrate Mothers’ Day, let us support mothers because it is their love and care that sustain humanity. Donna Ball says’ motherhood is a choice you make every day to put someone’s happiness and well-being ahead of yours. A Mother is indeed the foundation of love and since it takes fathers and children to be mothers, celebration of Mothers’ Day is a celebration of humanity and we must all join in the celebration. Happy Mothers’ Day!
The writer presented this write up at a meeting of Rotary Club in Accra
