Life, love and guidance

For those of us blessed with the special gift of either being a mother or having one, Mother’s Day is a very important celebration. Mother’s Day is designed to honor the incredible women who gave us life, love, and guidance. From the moment we are born, our mothers dedicate themselves to raising us with love, care and devotion. They are our biggest cheerleaders, our fiercest protectors, and our most patient teachers. Mother’s Day is more than just another commercial holiday; it is a chance for us to express our gratitude and appreciation for everything our mothers have done and continue to do for us.

I often think back on all the years that I’ve spent with my mother, and in those moments one thing was constant - love. Whether we were picking tulips out of the back yard, having coffee mid-afternoon, or arguing over the most insignificant things, love prevailed. As I’ve grown, I’ve realized a new appreciation for my mother and all the sacrifices she made on my behalf. When I became a mother myself, I realized it more so. It was as if all my senses and maternal instincts were heightened the day my daughter was born. I wanted only the best for my little girl and I finally understood why mothers make the sacrifices they do.

Being a mother is both the most rewarding and challenging role I’ve ever taken on. If you are a mother, you understand. From the moment I first held my daughter in my arms, I knew my life had changed forever. Immediately after my daughter was born, she was crying so loud until they put her in my arms. As I cradled her I felt a deep sense of connection and immense responsibility that I had never quite felt before. She was crying so much, and my first instinct was to say her name. When I did, she opened her big brown eyes, stopped crying and started looking for me. It felt as if everything else faded away in that moment. I think that moment filled me with a sense of purpose that has sustained me through every challenge and triumph of motherhood.

The history of Mother’s Day in the United States began in 1908 thanks to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, a social activist who wanted to honor her own mother’s legacy. Jarvis, like many of us, held a great appreciation for her own mother and three years after her mother’s death, Jarvis held a memorial celebration to honor her mother and all others. She established the white carnation as an emblem to represent all mothers on Mother’s Day. “The carnation does not drop its petals, but hugs them to its heart as it dies, and so, too, mothers hug their children to their hearts, their love never dying,” explained Jarvis as she described her reason for selecting the carnation. It wasn’t until several years later in 1914 that President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation officially recognizing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Today mothers day is celebrated in a multitude of different ways from brunches and flower deliveries, to boxes of chocolates and handmade cards. So, let’s take time to express our gratitude and appreciation for all the mothers in our lives for all that they do, not just on Mother’s Day but every day. And may I suggest sending your mother a bouquet of white carnations this Mother’s Day, May 14.