Beloved,

Happy Mother’s Day!

On this day in 1908, the first official celebration of Mother’s Day was held at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. As the saying goes, “And the rest is history.” Today, we pause to celebrate and remember mothers. Mother’s Day is always observed on the second Sunday in May, with mothers being honored through breakfast in bed, brunch or dinner at restaurants, and gifts as tokens of appreciation. Ann Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day, envisioned this occasion as a memorial dedicated to mothers. Before her death, she wished to remove the day from the calendar, feeling it had become too commercialized. Her hope was for Mother’s Day to be a day of sentiment, rather than one focused on purchasing gifts, cards, and presents for mothers.

Today, as we commemorate this most important day, I invite each of us to take a moment to remember, pause, and give thanks for our mothers and for women who have functioned as surrogate mothers in our lives and the lives of others. As we pause, let us offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God, recognizing that motherhood is a sacred calling, and remembering all women who, today, care for their families and communities in many ways.

Recently, I received a text from a former parishioner sharing pictures of his newborn son. It was a joy to celebrate with his family. When I responded, I inquired about how “mom” was doing after giving birth, and thankfully, both mother and baby are well. Yes, mothers are truly special, and it is fitting to pause and commemorate the women in our lives who are mothers or have served as mother figures. We also recognize that this day can be difficult for some. There are those among us whose mothers have died, or who might be in estranged relationships with their mother. These realities are a part of the vicissitudes of life.

It is true that this day may be too commercialized, like other special days. Nonetheless, I am grateful for Mother’s Day, because it prompts us to stop, slow down, remember, and appreciate the contributions of women and motherhood. Who are those women you remember today? How have they shaped your life for the better?

On this day, let us rejoice and celebrate mothers, and be grateful that we worship a God who reminds us through the prophet, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Is. 49.15, NRSV)

In Christ,

Dean Lee+