The term "Mother" is a household word in every human race. The "term" Sunday which is the name of the first day of the week commemorates the resurrection of the lord Jesus Christ which is different from the Jewish Sabbath.
For the purpose of making sense out of familiarity, it is necessary to attempt a definition of the term "Mother". The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English and the World Book Encyclopedia define "mother" as a female parent'. In this case, the term "mother" is applicable to most animals and many plants which reproduce sexually through the media of mother and father. The term mother is also applicable to anything or anyone that is the source from which others develop. Hence some people refer Eve as the mother of man and the Roman Catholics call Virgin Mary, Mother of God. It is also practice that some people call the land of their birth motherland, or mother country. A mother is a kind of mould in science and technology. And the cell that splits to give other cells is called "a mother". The solution that remains after a salt has crystallized is also referred to as "mother liquor."
All these point to the outstanding nature of the term mother. The word mother is alike in many languages. In Latin it is "mater" in French it is "mere"; in all those cases, the term mother represents an indispensable creative or moulding force. Hence the special recognition of mothers is necessary, giving rise to a special day for honouring mothers and appreciating their good works.
Ecclesiastically Mothering Sunday is the fourth of the six Sundays in the Lent. It is similar to "national day of observance" or mother's day in USA, which was instituted in 1907 and recognized by the US congress in 1914 and usually celebrated on second Sunday in May.
Mothering Sunday emphasizes the importance of mothers. During this period people visit their "mother church" as it is the rural English custom and go to the mother church for combine worship. Most people send gifts to their mothers and spouse. Mothers are allowed to carry out most of the activities in the church on such days. Serious consideration is given community. Mothers are analogically compared to roofs which suffer heat, cold, rains, and sunshine in order to protect everything in the house. A good mother submits to the authority and leadership of the husband not minding whether the man is educated, poor, handsome, ugly, or intelligent. She opens her mouth with wisdom and teaching of kindness is on her mouth and tongue teaching the younger women to love their husband and children. The good mother is a diligent housekeeper, good home manager and home economist, always ready to take care of her household with whatever the husband can make available. A good mother speaks courteously and politely to the husband thereby making her children and outsiders to recognize the husband as the lord of her household. This rule out nagging and heated argument in her household which scares people and give negative orientation to children.
The goal of a good mother in all her action is aimed at the pleasure of her husband and the entire household. A good mother forgives her husband whenever he makes mistake. It is an established fact that if the mother does her duty diligently well, success is certain in the family. Hence it is no gainsaying that behind every successful man and successful family there is a good mother. This is the crux of the matter in setting a day aside for the honour of mothers.
In recognition of the enormity of the excellent duties of mothers in life the following observation have been made. The Jewish proverb place mother side by side with God thereby saying, "God could not be everywhere and therefore He made mothers.
Henry Ward Beecher in his proverbs from Plymouth pulpit views mother as one who lays the only foundation in man"s life. He says, “what the mother sings to the cradle goes all the way down the coffin.”
Winston Churchill viewed mothers as the greatest teachers. When Winston Churchill was asked to check a list of those who taught him, he commented, "you have omitted to mention the greatest of my teachers my mothers".
Conclusively discussing the overwhelming task of mothers, Thomas Curyle posited that “a mother's knee” is a “great academy”.
We own much to our mothers that is why we honour them especially during the Mothering Sunday. Look for your mother, honour God by appreciating what she has done in your life, it shall be well with you.
