Today is Mother’s Day, established as a national day of thanksgiving or mothers by Woodrow Wilson. Its roots go deeper, however, when women’s peace groups following the Civil War anted to establish a day when mothers would no longer mourn the loss of their sons in war.
Not much has changed, since mothers still mourn the loss of their children due to war and its consequences of famine and starvation. Here in the United States mothers are still unable to provide for their children as a result of government policies that support tax breaks for the wealthy while the poor scrounge about for the crumbs.
Haven’t you wondered what a real Mother’s Day would be like? Perhaps one where mothers and their children are welcomed no matter their origin or circumstances, one that recognizes the need to end policies of greed, one that values justice and love. Flowers and balloons are nice, but they are no substitute for policies that enable mothers to feed their children no matter where or who they are.
Prayer for the Day
God who gives us vision, open the eyes of our hearts,
Moving us beyond the limits of our senses;
Lord who calls us to serve you in this world,
Expand our sight to see the need around us.
O Holy One, empower us to be all we can be,
So we reflect your mercy towards others.
In the name of the One who empowers us,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Children are the anchor that hold a mother to life.
Sophocles, Greek tragedian (497/496-406/405)
Every mother is like Moses. She does not enter the promised land. She prepares a world she will not see.
Pope Paul VI (1897-1978)
The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord,
But the one who is devious in conduct despises God.
Proverbs 14: 1-2