I knew both of my Grandmothers's fairly well. But, I do not think I ever met or knew my Great Grandmother's, or any ot my Great-Great Grandmothers. I do know where they are buried. But these ladies never really had a Mother's Day. You see Mother's Day was not really a thing until the time of the First World War. So there was not officially a day set aside in May for this event which is now an annual holiday. The first real event of Mother's Day was held by a Methodist Church in 1908. The idea caught on and in 1914 the US recognized it as an official holiday to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May every year.
But Mom's have always been important. The Scripture is very clear in Exodus Chapter 20. The 5th commandment is:
12“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 ESV
Paul called this the First Commandment with a promise. This emphasizes the importance of family. One day a year is not enough, and we all really know that we must honor our parents every day of the year. But I do think a special day is good. Halmark Cards, the florist, and thousands of restaurants all over the country think so too. The day is very commercialized for sure.
In 2022 I celebrated Mothers's Day with my mom. This was the last time on this earth I was able to honor her special day. It Was just a few days later she went to be with the Lord. I was with her when she left. It was peacful as she slipped into eternity about 4:30am. I was all alone with her, but my son Brett was on the phone (in Colorado) with me as we both prayed and shared the moment to honor a woman we both loved so much. It was just a few days after Mother's Day 2022. So the second anniversary of mom's passing comes in a few days.
To be a mother is an experience men cannot know or understand completely. I know a mother's love for her child is stronger than I can understand. I know this because I have seen and experienced my own mother's love. But I have also seen even closer my wife's (the mother of my children) love for our children. Her love cannot be tarnished through good times or bad. Through her own health concerns, or problems of relationships, difficulties of the world that are heart breaking, Kathy continues to hold fast to a mother's love for her children that cannot be shaken. I have great admiration for this strength of her love. But as I pause and think I believe that my Mamaw and my Granny, had this kind of love too. And while my Great Grannies may not have had a special day to honor them, they knew this kind of love for their children and their children's children. This kind of love was put in their hearts by the Lord.
I want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all the Ladies out there who know this honor of being a Mother.
This is the last photo I made of me with my Mom.
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