I was out early this Mother’s Day to pick up some hay from
my favorite farmer. As I drove past his cows towards the barn, I noticed five
or six very pregnant ones resting in a small circle in the pasture. Coming back, most had moved on to graze
nearby, except for one of the cows, who had given birth in those few minutes
and was gently licking her tiny wet calf as the baby wobbled over to begin
nursing. It was the perfect reminder for me of the miracle of life.
We spent most of the day with my mom, who loved every minute of it. She has recovered from her bout with diverticulitis and enjoyed the hugs from her granddaughter and the licks and snuggling with the dog and the two pieces of her favorite ice cream cake. She is my role model for being a strong woman, and even at 97, she encourages me to speak out against injustice and work for change.
Mother’s Day has been so corrupted by commercialism that I
think it’s important to remember that it was originally started in 1870 as
a cry against the Civil War and an attempt to remind people of what happens
when you put mothers at the center of all things.
It was activist Julia Ward
Howe who wrote: Arise, then, women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts,
whether your baptism be that of water or tears! Say firmly: "We will not have great questions
decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall 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 taught them of charity, mercy and patience. We women
of one country will be too tender of those of another to allow our sons to be
trained to injure theirs."
So, as I appreciate how I
am blessed by the life that I am living, my thoughts are more and more drawn towards
what I can do to help the women in the world who need our voices and support in
order to be safe and respected. I
recommend that you check out the Half the Sky Movement and this powerful
article written by Nicholas Kristof today in the New York Times, “Saving the Lives of Moms”.
"If one woman is hurt, all women are hurt,
there is no here & there about it."
2011 Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee
6 comments:
I didn't know Mother's Day started during the Civil War. Interesting. We do need to stand up for each other and support women everywhere. Good thoughts on Mother's Day.
Glad you spent the day with your mom and she enjoyed her day with family and cake. I'm very happy to hear she's feeling better too.
We had a nice day with children and grandchildren at the farm. The kids loved feeding the horses apple slices. It's such a joy to watch them interact with the horses and the big smiles on their faces are priceless.
It makes me realize how blessed we all are to have the lives we do.
Arlene - I'm so glad you had a fun day with your grandchildren. Hopefully, some of them will have the "horsey" gene.
Victoria,
You always know the right things to say. Another great post. Thanks for all your sweet comments on my Journal, they are really appreciated.
I would love to know your Mom.
Happy Mother's Day! I enjoyed a vase of wildflowers from our little November Hill meadow, some home-made frozen yogurt made by daughter, and son made a ciabbata last night. It was a quiet, laid-back day but full of simple pleasures.
Wonderful photo of you and your Mom. Thanks for the bit of history.
A lovely and timely post Victoria. If only women ruled the world...
That quote from Julia Ward Howe is a reminder that we need to find a new paradigm to replace war. And that folks in the !9th century had great skill with the written word.
Glad you enjoyed your mother's day. :)
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