Sunday, May 8, 2011

Mother's Day!

To many the day brought all that they craved in the ways of tradition; breakfast in bed a handmade card or perhaps a Hallmark one and brunch out?
Whatever your family does to make this day another one of remembrance for all you Mom’s out there to keep in your heart and soul forever.
“ History of American Celebration...
“When the first English settlers came to America, they discontinued the tradition of Mothering Day. While the British holiday would live on, the American Mother’s Day would be invented—with an entirely new history—centuries later. One explanation for the settlers’ discontinuation of Mothering Day was that they just didn’t have time; they lived under harsh conditions and were forced to work long hours in order to survive. Another possibility, however, is that Mothering Day conflicted with their Puritan ideals. Fleeing England to practice a more conservative Christianity without being persecuted, the pilgrims ignored the more secular holidays, focusing instead on a no-frills devotion to God. For example, even holidays such as Christmas and Easter were much more somber occasions for the pilgrims, usually taking place in a Church that was stripped of all extraneous ornamentation.
Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation of 1870
The first North American Mother’s Day was conceptualized with Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870. Despite having penned The Battle Hymn of the Republic 12 years earlier, Howe had become so distraught by the death and carnage of the Civil War that she called on Mother’s to come together and protest what she saw as the futility of their Sons killing the Sons of other Mothers. With the following, she called for an international Mother's Day celebrating peace and motherhood:
Arise, then, women of this day!


Arise all women who have hearts,
Whether your baptism be that of water or of tears
Say firmly:

"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands shall not come to us reeking of carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of
charity, mercy and patience.

"We women of one country
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says, "Disarm, Disarm!"
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice!
Blood does not wipe out dishonor
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war.

Let women now leave all that may be left of home
for a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions.
The great and general interests of peace.”

The above info was what I gleaned from: http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/about-mothersday/history/

For some reason it struck me as quite interesting and perhaps you too will feel that way as well. It appears that she was one of the very first to feel her reasoning was just for such an occasion and I might add I do believe the ideas were not so farfetched as many others of today feel that way.

In the long run though I do hope that all that you hoped for came to pass… but if not don’t be sad or angry remember that it is a yearly holiday and with that said there is always next year. Why some Hubby’s take years to get it right with your joint offspring and so don’t be upset, as we all know practice makes perfect, right?

And on that message of everyone needs a second chance including those lovely children that you made let me be the first to wish you all a very happy good night and to kindly ask you to count those blessings and to share those overages and we will too!

And next time if it all really went badly, have pets!
They may not get you cards or breakfast in bed but they never ever talk back or ignore you, just go outside and come in again, you know what I mean…

And sure I want you to be here and then join our circle of life… oh where’s that square thingy gone… it will be back when I don’t fit it so much myself, OK?

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