In preparation for my first (ever?) Mother's Day sermon, I have struggled with the best way to both honor all of our mothers while keeping the focus of our Sunday worship where it belongs: on Jesus. In the process I learned something I didn't intend to, & share it here.
Anna Jarvis--credited as the founder of America's modern Mother's Day--fought for a day to be nationally accepted as a public, yearly celebration of mothers. Far from the commercially lucrative money maker the holiday is now, her passion was "to memorialize her mother by working to promote a day that would honor all mothers." Much to her chagrin, the idea took off and, before she knew it, her sentiments for her beloved mother had turned into a cash cow for florists and greeting card distributors. She was not pleased by the outcome of her hopeful pleas. She remarked:
Mother's Day is “to be a day of sentiment, not profit.” Those profiting from the day were “charlatans, bandits, pirates, racketeers, kidnappers and termites that would undermine with their greed one of the finest, noblest and truest movements and celebrations.” | “A maudlin, insincere printed card or ready-made telegram means nothing except that you’re too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone else in the world.” She also said, “Any mother would rather have a line of the worst scribble from her son or daughter than any fancy greeting card.” |
But this story is incomplete without your input. What about you? In what way has your mother helped to shape your character and led you to be better than you once were?