Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day
It is good that our beloved country has made among its feasts a feast for mothers. It is a day when emotions overflow from every side. This beloved word—mother—is interpreted by each person according to his own feelings and sense of belonging.
The first mother is Eve, the mother of us all.
The mother of all living—unfortunately, on Mother’s Day we rarely find anyone who remembers or cares for her much. In most cases, we do not mention her with goodness, and we attribute to her all the toil of humanity, forgetting her virtues.
On Mother’s Day, each of us remembers his own mother who gave him birth, whether she is still alive or has departed.
We remember her love and care; we remember that she was the first cheerful face we saw in our lives, the first who played with us, comforted us, and cared for us.
It is gratitude toward this kind woman who labored sincerely and lovingly, with all her senses and emotions, for the happiness of her child.
It is a greeting to that heart which endured much—for everyone—for her children, their father, and all the household and its guests.
A greeting to this woman who pours beauty, elegance, and order upon the home. Everything is left for her in confusion and disorder, yet she arranges it quietly, without protest, complaint, or weariness.
And she may grow tired, without hearing a kind word.
Therefore, on Mother’s Day, we speak to her kindly, compensating her for our old neglect, placing her upon a throne worthy of her sacrifice, love, kindness, and dignity as a mother.
Out of people’s love for the mother and their sense of belonging to her, they use her name in many other associations.
We call our homeland “our mother Egypt.” We call the Church “our mother the Church.” We also say of baptism that “we were all born from the womb of baptism, our mother.” Likewise, we call the institutions we graduated from “our mother university” or “our mother seminary.”
In the celebration of Mother’s Day, we honor all these noble mothers.
With all respect and gratitude, we place bouquets of appreciation upon the head of the mother.
As the nation celebrates Mother’s Day this week, we remember:
The love of the mother, the honoring of the mother, the status of the mother, and examples of virtuous mothers. There is no heart more tender than that of a mother.
The first relationship a human being establishes is with his mother—not only from the day of his birth but even before, while he dwells in her womb during pregnancy, nourished by her blood. Then he comes forth from her to rest upon her breast, nourished by her milk, her affection, and her care.
To the child, the mother is love, care—she is his whole world.
The child owes his mother everything. If she neglects him, he is lost. Therefore, God used her as an example of tenderness and care, saying, “If a mother forgets her infant, I will not forget you.”
The father, alongside his love, may be characterized by firmness, but the mother is the source of concentrated love, pure tenderness, and gentle affection.
She serves her child in every way, caring for him spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
The mother is an example of giving, sacrifice, and endurance.
A mother’s tenderness does not embrace her son only during pregnancy, nursing, and childhood, but throughout all his life.
This love is a debt upon the son, obliging him always to repay it with loyalty and gratitude.
As his mother loved him, he should love her. As she cared for him, he should care for her. She carried him in his childhood; he should carry her in her old age and in his maturity.
Honoring one’s mother is a commandment from God—given even before the words, “You shall not kill” and “You shall not commit adultery.”
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land.” A commandment with a promise.
How should one honor his mother?
A mother is honored by obeying her, by working for her comfort, by loving and serving her, and by not burdening her.
She is honored by respecting and revering her, caring for her, showing your love through kind words and gifts, however small.
Do not argue with your mother proudly.
Do not raise your voice when speaking to her.
Do not oppose, challenge, or go beyond her.
Do not utter a hurtful word to her.
Do not force her to fulfill your desires.
Do not criticize her, especially in front of others.
Ask for her blessing every day—ask for her blessing every day.
Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – Year 9, Issue 11, March 17, 1978
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