Today is Mother's Day! A day to remember our beloved mothers! We remember them not only with floral tributes and mouthful greetings, but of course with grateful deeds of hearty love. It is well said that a mother carries a child in her womb for nine months and in her heart for the rest of her life. There can be no doubt that "Mother" is the most beautiful and lovable word in any language. This shows the importance of mother in our lives. Mother stands for millions of things she gives to her children. It also stands for the sacrifices, pain, grief and sorrows which she has to undergo to keep her children happy and secure. No joy can match the joy of a mother looking at her child with her craving eyes, deeper than a whole ocean. The most important woman in an individual's life can be none but his mother.
The First Mother's Day
As the history says inspired by the idea of British Mothers' day, Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker, organized sanitation works in 1858, through Mothers Work Days. After the death of Jarvis in 1907, her daughter named Anna Jarvis, started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. Thus the first Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on 10 May 1908, in the church where the elder Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday school In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war. The United States celebrates Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May which is followed by many nations today. Globalization and commercial media have promoted the celebrations to greater levels with higher sales of cakes, flowers, jewelries, etc.
Today when the world celebrates the Mother's Day, it is high time for us to think about the condition of our mothers in the world at large! At least now we should be provoked to think of the wombs that gave birth to us and how much they endure in their inner hearts!
Mother's Day In India
Though it is a western celebration, globalization has made it to be celebrated in India also. India regarded motherhood as the supreme one even equal to God! It has respected motherhood with such high esteem that there is a proverb in Tamil, “There is no temple better than a mother!” and paying respect to a mother is equal to worship to God. That is why the Indians called their country "motherland" and the rivers of the country by names of mothers!
For thousands of years the Hindus have been celebrating festivals, honoring mothers.
A Sad Fact
It is a sad fact that in the commercial life of today, mothers are being neglected. Parents have become additional unnecessary burdens! The number of old age homes is increasing by leaps and bounds! Most of the inmates thrown into these homes are neglected mothers!
The Indian families are reducing numbers. According to 1981 census, there were six members in the families which have reduced to four in the 2001 census, which clearly showed the pitiable condition of the aged!
Let Us Respect Our Mothers
Not only today but throughout our life, let us respect our mothers! They are matchless! Their motherhood is to be honored in all possible ways. Because nothing can match the supreme qualities of motherhood that require transparent tenderness, authentic spirituality, inner confidence, unselfish love and unequal self control!
Billions of cheers to our dear mothers! Blessed are those wombs!
