EVERY year on May 10th, our streets and churches fill with the sweet scent of flowers and the warmth of family gatherings. While many see Mother’s Day as a modern holiday, its roots are deep and personal. It was founded by Anna Maria Jarvis (1864-1948) in the United States to fulfill a prayer made by her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, a social activist. After her mother passed away in 1905, Anna began a dedicated campaign to create a day that honoured the “matchless service” mothers provide to humanity. The first official service was held on May 10, 1908, at a church in West Virginia, where Anna sent 500 white carnations to mark the occasion. By 1914, the day was officially recognized as a national holiday. The purpose of this day remains simple yet profound: to pause our busy lives and say “thank you” to the women who gave us life and guided our first steps. In the Christian heartland of Lamka, this day holds a special place in our calendars and our pews, reminding us that a mother’s influence is the foundation of a stable society.
The power of a mother’s guidance is perhaps best captured by one famous American evangelist D.L. Moody (1837-1899). At his mother’s funeral, he told his friends, “If everyone had a mother like my mother, there would be no need for jails.” This wasn’t just praise; it was a testament to how a mother’s love shapes a person’s character. The Bible reinforces this, instructing children to obey their parents in the Lord and reminding parents to love their children deeply. When we abide by the teachings of our mothers, we aren’t just following rules; we are preserving the moral fabric of our community. Their wisdom is the light that keeps us on the right path, ensuring that our homes and towns remain places of peace and kindness.
However, we must ask ourselves if we are truly living out these values every day. In the last week of April, a heart-breaking video circulated on WhatsApp showing a 60-year-old woman, living in inhumane conditions in New Lamka. It took the quick action of Inspector Chinneilam Gangte and the Women Police Station team, along with the One Stop Centre, to rescue her and provide medical care. While we thank the WPS for their service, this incident serves as a wake-up call. How can a mother or an elderly woman be left in such a state in a society that prides itself on family values? We must cultivate a love that extends beyond our own front doors to our sisters, our aunts, and every elderly woman in our neighbourhood.
As we prepare for Mother’s Day, let us remember that love is a verb - it requires action. If we love our mothers with all our hearts and souls, that love will naturally overflow into our land, healing our divisions and strengthening our bonds. We children have a duty to repay our parents, not with money, but with the same tireless care they once gave us. Our churches will observe this day with prayers and songs, but the greatest tribute we can offer is a commitment to ensure no mother is ever left lonely or neglected again. True gratitude for a mother is measured not by the gifts we give one day a year, but by the dignity and care we provide them throughout their lives. Let us honour her original vision by transforming our Sunday celebrations into a lifelong practice of kindness, ensuring that every woman in Lamka feels the warmth of the love she so freely gave. Love for our mothers is the seed from which a peaceful society grows.
~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 10.05.2026
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