Thursday, May 7, 2009

Mother's Day: A Call for Peace

It's the season of Mother's Day, again. A time when we typically hear on TV, Radio, and now internet adds, "get mom what she truly desires." "Yes," I and my fellow bereaved mother's scream everywhere, "Give me back my CHILD."

I discovered a year ago some of the origins of Mother's Day. Many note that the mother's day that Julia Ward Howe called for was one of peace---one where mother's took to public forums their protests of war so there would be no more dead children. Her mother's day proclamation called for women to "bewail and commemorate the dead" and "promote the interest of peace." You can read the entire proclamation here.

I found a bit of comfort in Howe's words and in recognizing that her vision of Mother's Day has become mine---a day when more children could be nurtured, than would be mourned.

So, I'm sending this "Honoring Mother's Day" e-message to the bereaved mothers whose children have died in war. With you I bewail and commemorate your children's deaths and hope, hope desperately for peace.
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10 comments:

  1. still life angieMay 8, 2009 at 6:08 AM

    wow, i had no idea that was the origin of mother's day. thank you so much for sharing that. that really is a comforting way to look at the day...mothers unified to prevent other mothers from feeling our pain. thank you. abrazos y besos, angie

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  2. loribethMay 8, 2009 at 8:34 AM

    Interesting, isn't it, how the original intent of the holiday has become so perverted?

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  3. RMay 8, 2009 at 8:40 AM

    Thank you for sharing that- the story I always had heard about Mother's day was that of Anna Jarvis but I like knowing the history of it prior to her push. I join you in a hope for peace- both in the world and in our hearts. <3

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  4. LindsayMay 8, 2009 at 10:21 AM

    I agree with Angie, and I wish more people knew this. I believe many more people would be sympathetic on this day to mother's in unorthodox mothering positions. (Did that make any sense?)
    Anyway, thanks for bringing this out. I'm clicking on the link now to learn a little more :)
    Much love to you,
    linds

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  5. ericaMay 8, 2009 at 12:33 PM

    Thank you for this. I actually feel a bit better about Mother's Day now.

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  6. Snarky BelleMay 8, 2009 at 1:17 PM

    This brought me to tears.
    Thank you for sharing, and I want to join that call for peace.

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  7. ZilMay 9, 2009 at 8:54 AM

    Thanks for the info. on mother's day. The origins are very interesting. Tomorrow, I will be bewailing and commemorating - and I find comfort knowing that's the intent of the holiday.

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  8. kayMay 9, 2009 at 6:39 PM

    Happy Mothers Day,
    Holding you in my heart,
    Thinking of you,
    Lots of Love, Hugs & Kisses,
    Kay xxxx

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  9. AmyMay 10, 2009 at 9:28 AM

    Wishing you a peaceful mothers day.

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  10. Kimberly CarolanMay 11, 2009 at 2:58 PM

    That is such a cool thing to know the true origin of Mother's Day--just thought before that it was a Hallmark-created holiday :) But it does hurt when we remember these holidays without the ones that made them what they were. I'm sorry for your loss.

    Kim Carolan
    http://walkingthroughthevalleyoftheshadow.blogspot.com
    www.strategicbookpublishing.com/walkingthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath.html

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