It’s Mother’s Day, the day we are supposed to especially honor our mothers and their memories. The day goes back to 1908 when Anna Jarvis wanted a special day in memory of her mother and managed to create a letter writing campaign so that in 1914 President Wilson established it on the second Sunday in May.
Churches will hand out pink and white carnations today, and then tomorrow, we’ll go on with our usual business of politicians wanting to cut food stamps, public assistance, and other benefits for mothers and children. Today the press will have soppy stories about mothers who sacrificed all and tomorrow we’ll return to our me-first culture.
What does it mean to really celebrate Mother’s Day? Perhaps by making sure that mothers don’t have to make dreadful choices for themselves and their children. To really celebrate mothers, we need to change our national priorities and fund those programs that enable mothers to feed and care for their children.
Prayer for the Day
God beyond all comprehension,
You pour out your mercy upon us;
Open our eyes blind to the world around us,
And our ears deaf to the cry of the sick and the poor.
Grant that we may open our doors to those who need us
Extending your grace and spirit of love and care.
In the name of the One who shared your spirit with us
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen
Thoughts for the Day
An imbalance between rich and poor is the most fatal element of all republics.
- Plutarch, Greek historian (46-119)
In my district California 14, we have about 4,000 families on food stamps, but some of my colleagues have thousands and thousands more. Yet they somehow feel like crusaders when they vote to cut food stamps.
- Jackie Speier, former Member of Congress
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God,
Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
Psalm 146: 5-7