May 9, 2004 History  of Mothers' Day Some Motherly  Advice What the Bible says about Mothers ... is for the million things she gave me, ... means only that she's growing old, ... is for the tears she shed to save me, ... is for her heart of purest gold; ... is for her eyes, with love-light shining, ... means right, and right she'll always be. Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER," A word that means  the world to me. --Howard Johnson (c. 1915) History and  Customs... In the U.S. Mothers' Day is a holiday celebrated on second Sunday in May. It is a day when children honor their mothers with cards,  gifts, and flowers. First observance in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1907, it is based on suggestions by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 and Anna Jarvis in 1907. Although it wasn't celebrated in the U.S. until 1908, there were days honoring mothers even in the days of ancient Greece. In those days,  however, it was Rhea, the Mother of the gods that was given honor. Later, in the 1600's, in England there was an annual observance called "Mothering Sunday." It was celebrated during Lent, on the fourth Sunday.  On Mothering Sunday, the servants, who generally lived with their employers, were encouraged to return home and honor their mothers. It was traditional for them to bring a special cake along to celebrate the occasion. In the U.S., in 1908 Ana Jarvis, from Grafton, West Virginia, began a  campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Jarvis persuaded her  mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the anniversary of her mother's death. A memorial service was held there on May 10, 1908 and in Philadelphia the following year where Jarvis moved. Jarvis and others began a letter-writing campaign to ministers,  businessmen, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. They were successful. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day a national  observance that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May. Many other countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at  different times throughout the year. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey,  Australia, and Belgium celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May,  as in the U.S. Some Motherly  Advice... Always change your underwear; you never know when you'll have an accident. Don't make that face or it'll freeze in that position. Be careful or you'll put your eye out. What if everyone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too? You have enough dirt behind those ears to grow potatoes! Close that door! Were you born in a barn? If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Don't put that in your mouth; you don't know where it's been! What the Bible says about Mothers... Gen 3:20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the  mother of all the living. Exo 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Lev 19:3 "'Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you  must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God. Deu 5:16 "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God  has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well  with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 2 Ki 4:30 But the child's mother said, "As surely as the LORD lives  and as you live, I will not leave you." So he got up and followed her. Prov 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his  father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. Isa 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and  you will be comforted over Jerusalem." Ezek 16:44 "'Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb  about you: "Like mother, like daughter." Luke 1:43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Luke 2:51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom  he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. Celebrate  Mom from Women's Day Absolutely for Mother's  Day Celebrations!