CHOOSE LIFE...

Mother's Day or Father's Day... Do you know which holiday actually came first?

The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Grafton, West Virginia.  She then began a campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday in the United States.  Although she was successful in 1914, she was already disappointed with its commercialization by the 1920s.  Other countries adopted Jarvis' holiday and it is now celebrated all over the world.  In this tradition, each person offers a gift, card, or remembrance toward their mothers, grandmothers, and/or maternal figure on

 mother's day.

Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas, founded Father's Day in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910.  Its first celebration was held on June 19.  Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there.  After hearing a sermon about Jarvis' Mother's Day in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them.  Although she initially suggested June 5, her father's birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.

I set out to write a post to honor my mother and father and to thank them for choosing life.  As far back as I can remember as a small child, people would ask me, "Why do you live with your grandparents?"  After writing my book, people have asked me, "Why were you raised by your grandparents?"  I was given many explanations from numerous family members but my grandmother explained it to me like this...

Your mom and dad were going through a divorce when you were conceived and they decided to put you up for adoption.  The doctor who delivered you was going through all the necessary arrangements to adopt you.  However, when you were six days old your grandfather visited the hospital, took one look at you and said, "I'm taking her home."

I was a senior in high school when my grandmother died and twenty-four years old when my grandpa passed away.  I wish they were here to wish them a Happy Mothers and Father's day.  My biological parents are gone as well but I choose to honor them for giving me life.  Is there someone you want to wish a Happy Mothers or Fathers Day, someone you want to say, "thank you to?" Someone you honor?  I encourage you to do it today.  

Go on...