Happy Mother’s Day! There is truly no job more rewarding, no sacrifice more worthy than that of a mother. We should all take time on this day to remember the original meaning of this holiday, a day for peace among mankind. Here is an experpt from the original Mother’s Day Proclamation, created by Civil War Nurse Julia Ward Howe in 1870:
“Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts, Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly: “We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”
From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own. It says: “Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.” Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means Whereby the great human family can live in peace.”
Spoken over 140 years ago, and yet still so relevant today.
Just something to reflect on as you receive your well-earned breakfast in bed, -egg shells and all!- your handmade cards covered in colorful crayon proclamations of love, and your fistfulls of wildflowers with the roots still attatched!
“Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts, Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly: “We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”
From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own. It says: “Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.” Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means Whereby the great human family can live in peace.”
Spoken over 140 years ago, and yet still so relevant today.
Just something to reflect on as you receive your well-earned breakfast in bed, -egg shells and all!- your handmade cards covered in colorful crayon proclamations of love, and your fistfulls of wildflowers with the roots still attatched!
Here is a photo of my very first Mother’s day as a mother, with my awesome mom, 8 years ago!
Enjoy your day~
