Nothing outranks service of motherhood

Civilizations throughout history have recognized the fundamental role of the mother.

Ancient Greeks celebrated a holiday in honor of Rhea, the mother of the gods. Ancient Romans honored Cybele, a mother goddess.

The English were the first to recognize individual mothers during "Mothering Sunday" in the 1600s, which was celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

In the United States, Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe, author of "Battle Hymn of the Republic." She held organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston ever year as a day dedicated to peace.

However, the true mother of Mother's Day was Ana Jarvis of Philadelphia, who began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day in 1907. She convinced her mother's church in Grafton, W. Va., to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the second Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.

Jarvis and her supporters began a letter-writing campaign to business and political leaders and by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson made it an official holiday in 1914, to be celebrated the second Sunday of May.

It is no wonder a day was set aside to honor those who give life, then nurture it along. There is no work that outranks the service of a mother. And the most important mother of all is, of course, yours.

So call your mom today and let her know.