It’s a special day today for many families around the world. It is Mother’s Day.
This special day brims with stories of resilience, love, and great spirit. There is so much to talk about and reflect on.
There is so much to appreciate and many reasons to place value on those we are celebrating.
While there appears to be differing views of when this day is to be celebrated here in Fiji, the tradition of Mother’s Day began in 1908 when a woman named Anna Jarvis organised a memorial for her mother, Ann Reece Jarvis, a peace activist who used to take care of wounded soldiers of the American Civil War.
History tells us that after her mother’s death in 1905, Anna Jarvis began gathering support for her ideals to set aside a day in honour of all mothers because she believed a mother is “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world”.
Now the day has transitioned from pampering mums to expressing respect and love for mothers, grandmothers, aunts and to some extent single fathers who play the dual role of mum and dad.
We learn that by 1911, all US states observed the holiday, with some officially recognising Mother’s Day as a local holiday. This day is now celebrated in most countries around the world on the second Sunday of May.
It is a day set aside to express respect and love towards mothers. Today, we are expected to honour our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, single dads who also take up the role of motherhood and acknowledge their role in our communities and the nation.
Today, many families will take time out to pamper that important woman in their lives.
Some of us don’t have our mothers with us as they have passed on.
However, surely, we all have an enduring memory of what our mother meant to us and many of us will reflect on their love, dedication and devotion.
What was it that made her someone so special?
Perhaps we could try to bring that quality to life in our families, with our workmates and our friends.
For it is said that those who have left us do not do so completely, they continue to live on in the lives of those who were close to them.
We have said this before, that their way of thinking and doing things, their advice, their lessons on how life is to be lived endures because those who were close to them saw in it a gem of the truth; that it was indeed good.
This sentiment brings us back to the core message of Mother’s Day. While some may argue that every day should be dedicated to mothers, a special day serves as a powerful reminder.
It is a day set aside for us to pause, take stock of where we are, and reflect on the importance of our mothers in our lives.
We hope you will take a moment to reflect on the extra-ordinary women who have shaped your life, and you will let their love and strength serve as a guiding light.
We encourage everyone to take a moment, not just to celebrate, but to remember! Think about the women who have helped shape who you are. Let’s honour their contributions. Let’s reflect on their love, wisdom, and spirit and be empowered and guided by them.
To our mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and carers, and to the men who fill both parental roles, we say thank you. You sustain families, build communities, and subsequently strengthen nations. Happy Mother’s Day!
