Dr. Jim Surrell, Journal columnist

Every year in the U.S., we celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May. This year it will be celebrated on May 14.

Let us now take a brief look at the history of this wonderful special national holiday to honor our mothers.

Our mothers certainly do so much as they give their loving care to their children every day. It is so appropriate to recognize our mothers on the very special day.

Anna Jarvis is historically recognized as the founder of Mother’s Day in the U.S. She is historically known to be the lady who worked so very hard to bestow honor on all mothers. During her childhood, Anna Jarvis got the inspiration of celebrating Mother’s Day from her own mother, Mrs. Anna Marie Reeves-Jarvis. Mrs. Reeves-Jarvis passed away in 1905.

Her loving daughter, Anna Jarvis, never forgot her mother’s strong desire of having a Mother’s day in the United States.

Anna Jarvis started her personal celebration of Mother’s Day by sending carnation flowers to her church in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor her mother.

Carnations were her mother’s favorite flower and Anna felt that they symbolized a mother’s pure love. Anna Jarvis, along with many others who supported her Mother’s Day efforts, wrote letters to people in positions of power lobbying for the official declaration of a Mother’s Day holiday. Their persistent efforts eventually were very successful.

By 1911, Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union, even though it was not yet recognized as an official national holiday.

Then, on May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.  

Let me now conclude this brief review of this wonderful day with some silly Mother’s Day humor.

≤ Why does Mother’s Day come before Father’s Day? Because it should always be “Ladies First”.

≤ Why is your computer so smart? Because it wisely listens to its “Mother” board.

≤ What did the digital clock say to its Mother? “Look, Ma! No hands!”

≤ How did the Michigan Bear open her Mother’s Day card? With her bear hands.

≤ All kids know that nothing is ever really lost in your house unless your Mom also can’t find it.

≤ What are the three wisest words of wisdom that us Dad’s use frequently? “Ask your Mother.”

≤ What would not be the best flower to give to your Mom on Mother’s Day? “Cauliflower.”

Thank you, Mothers, for all you do! God Bless you all.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of the best-selling SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet book and his new Joke Book, entitled “Laughter Is Good Medicine.” Dr. Jim’s website is sosdietbook.com.