What Was the Original Meaning of Mother’s Day?

Original Meaning of Mother's Day Created with AI by Rebecca Keene — Original Meaning of Mother’s Day

Today each of us is honoring our mothers and the sacrifices they have made for us. However, few of us realize that was not the original meaning of Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day was created to be about mothers creating the world they wanted their children to live in.

The Original Meaning of Mother’s Day

Recently, I have been reading Gloria Steinman’s book, The Truth Will Set You Free But First It Will Piss You Off. In the book, Gloria states, “What Julia Ward Howe had in mind in 1870 when she invented Mother’s Day for Peace was a day on which we oppose war and advance peace.” I believe I had learned this piece of feminist history before. Still, we get caught up in the modern holiday celebration and forget to celebrate the original meaning of Mother’s Day.

Do the Mothering

So this Mother’s Day, while we celebrate our mother, let us remember to do the mothering. We must fight for the world we want to leave our children. As mothers, we are called to nurture and protect the most vulnerable members of society. Our job as mothers is to protect those who can not yet defend themselves. This is what we must never forget.

Protect and Nurture

Clearly, G-d has called us to protect the young and the defenseless. Psalms 127:3 reminds us, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” However, mothering doesn’t stop with our own children. Proverbs 24:11-12 commands us:

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
   hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
¹²If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not repay man according to his work?”

Create The World You Want

Protecting our children and the defenseless means we must create the world we want our children to live in. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” If we are to do this, then we must teach them peace. We must fight for peace in the world. Proverbs 16:7 reminds us, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Leviticus 19:18 warns, ” ¹⁸You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Call To Remember The Original Meaning of Mother’s Day

In conclusion, mothers work hard. They have perhaps the hardest job on the planet. Therefore, it is nice for a mother to be honored for a day. Yet, let us never forget that Mother’s Day was originally a call for peace. The original meaning of Mother’s Day was for mothers to fight for the kind of world they want their children to occupy. So, today do something that promotes that meaning. Whether that be something as big as joining a humanitarian movement or as small as talking to your child about the importance of making peace with their enemies, do not let this day end without taking action to make the world a safer place for our children and theirs.