“An Ounce of Mother is Better than a Pound of Clergy.”
| Spanish Proverb |
We celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of the Month of May; and this year it falls on the 10th of May. It was 112 years ago on May10; Miss Jarvis gave a carnation (her mother’s favorite flower) to each person who attended the memorial service for her mother. Within the next few years, the idea of a day to honor mothers gained popularity, and Mother’s Day was observed in a number of large cities in the U.S. On May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. He established the day as a time for “public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” By then it had become customary to wear white carnations to honor departed mothers and red to honor the living, a custom that continues to this day. There are more than 46 countries in the world celebrating Mother’s Day now.
She put herself last and her family always the first. She is the first woman who kissed me; the first woman who talked me; the only woman who fed me with her own milk and nourishment.
There is an unbreakable biological, emotional, psychological and spiritual relationship between a mother and her child. As the mother and the child grows older their relationship may become better or worse depending on the life environment and living conditions. However, it is said to be a model for a healthy human relationship between two individuals.
All of us grew up with our own personal experiences with our mothers. Most of them are positive and some of them are negative. A couple of days ago, I happened to talk to a person who shared with me the story of a 34-year-old woman who ran away with her boyfriend, leaving behind her husband and two kids. One of her kids called this woman as a “Devilish Woman”. It is certainly painful and heart breaking; though it is an isolated event.
It makes me wonder; does a woman become a Mother by giving birth to a child? According to me the answer is Yes and No. By giving birth to a child a woman becomes biologically a mother; but not emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Most of the times, these aspects are much more important than the biological aspect. A woman becomes a mother not only when she is ready and willing to break her womb and breast, but her very life for the child. It is like a grain of seed willing to break itself so that it can produce life; lest it stays as a single grain. Mother’s Day is meant to honor and appreciate those women who break their lives for the sake of their kids and family.
My perspective on mothers is very much colored by my own personal experience with my mother, whom I call as an “uncanonized saint”. She put herself last and her family always the first. She is the first woman who kissed me; the first woman who talked me; the only woman who fed me with her own milk and nourishment. Every day she broke herself so as to give life to her kids and husband. I could always experience clearly in her a woman blooming to be a mother of seven kids. A woman of love, compassion and understanding.
It is not only the case of my mother (though I can only speak about my mother) but several millions of mothers in the world both living and deceased. A Mother is a gift; nay a treasure; no, an angel of God; no, she is next to God himself. No human life here on earth is traditionally possible without the help and support of a mother. Therefore, we say; “Maternity is a Matter of Fact and Paternity is a Matter of Opinion”. We salute all the mothers both living and deceased on this occasion of Mother’s Day. We Love you Mom and Love You Dearly and Deeply! We wish all the mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!
With Prayers,
Fr Tomy Puliyan, MSFS
“Holiness and Happiness through Wellness and Wholeness”
the caption is very catchy… “An Ounce Of Mother Is Better Than A Pound Of Clergy.”
“Mother puts Others First….. ” is how I describe my mother.
really written well… a short history… your view of motherhood…. what makes a woman a mother is more than just delivery…
Thanks
My Mother, who successfully raised 14 children, is also an I canonizes saint. Thanks for that term.
Thanks Father Tomy
I was blessed with the best mother a daughter could have for 81 years. Lost her to cancer in November 2018, two days before my 55th birthday. There’s not a day that goes by that she doesn’t cross my mind. The wonderful memories I hold in my heart are blessings that I will forever be grateful for. My mother taught me so many things but the greatest lesson that comes to mind is my bedtime prayers. I will always have the vision of my mother praying on her knees before bedtime. Thanks for the precious memories Momma and Happy Heavenly Mothers Day.
A mother is someone who should never be taken for granted !!Who no matter what be with you through anything.
Thank you Father Tomy. I’m blessed to have my mom living with me. She is the true essence of a chef, my partner in crime, disciplinarian with love, and true queen of the family.
Dear Brother,
The words you wrote to express the feeling abouoult our mother has come frome the heart and it is real , nothing exaggerated,
She was a living Saint ,and uncanonised Saint
.She was an ultimate solution for our problems,she was a philosopher, mentor, teacher and more over she was symbol of true love and never ending candle
What iam today ,it is because of my mother,my value system ,my spiritually,and my whole being
I salute my mother specially in this day
Also remember my greatest gift that she left
for me in this world,that is my siblings, which makes my life meaning full
Thanks dear brother for your touching words about our mother
It is and will be always a wonder for me that how Augustine(St.Augustine) became a priest. Sinners can be converted is sure. But how a man like Augustine became a priest and then a bishop? We can’t avoid his mother Monica’s (St.Monica) prayers…