Celebrate Mother's Day 2022

Global media was captivated by the story that emerged a few weeks ago about an 11-year-old Ukrainian boy named Hassan. Hassan fled a Ukraine war zone with only a passport and a phone number written on his hand. After traveling over 600 miles along, Hassan was reunited with his mother. A great mother had instilled in her son something about courage, hope, determination and perseverance. Hans Selye, a well-known doctor who devoted a lifetime to research on stress and coping was asked “can you isolate any single factor that determines what a person becomes?’ Without hesitation he replied, ‘His mother.’ There is no question that a mother molds the child- who comforts a sick child, who wipes away the tears, who gives so very much, but asks so very little.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, consider the following observation:

First, A mother is a child’s first teacher. According to Sidney Ledson, author of Raising a Brighter Child: “Whenever the question of educating children is raised, thoughts usually turn to school and to schoolteachers. But mothers are, and have always been, their children’s first and most important teacher. What mothers teach, or fail to teach, intentionally or unintentionally, profoundly influences their children’s entire lives.” Our mothers are the first ones to teach us to be positive in a negative world, to always be grateful for life and its blessings, to work hard, and to maintain a sense of humor. Motheres teach us that laughter prevents a hardening of the attitudes. These are just a few of the many firsts we learn from our mothers.

Second, mothers educate children to become responsible adults. Spencer Kinard, author of A Moment’s Pause concluded; “How are children and youth best trained to be responsible, mature, contributing adults? There is little question that a good and loving family is the ideal setting for a child to grow, to learn, to be molded; and at the heart of the family is the mother. It follows, then, that no one serves the community, the nation, or the world better than the caring mothers who caress the babies of the world; the mothers who rock the worried child to sleep, who wipe the fevered brow, who give so much and ask so little.”

Third, mothers exemplify great values. America’s mothers with great courage and perseverance go about the business of raising our future leaders- scientists, teachers, writers, doctors, nurses, presidents. These great mothers are courageous in the face of a fearful pandemic, and now tough economic times, figuring out a way to make ends meet while gas and food prices skyrocket.

In conclusion, Mothers deserve our support. Mothers deserve the highest consideration from society. David O McKay, past president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints observed: “The noblest calling in the world is that of mother. True motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions. She who can paint a masterpiece or who can write a book that will influence millions deserves the plaudits and admiration of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters whose immortal souls will be exerting an influence throughout the ages long after painting shall have faded, and books and statues shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give.”

In an age when mothers are devalued they deserve even more of our praise, support and thanks. Mothers should be remembered and honored not only on Mother’s Day but every day of the year.