Shirley Buxton

From the Associated Press is the background story of this very popular holiday.

GRAFTON, W.Va. — On this 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day, the woman credited with creating one of the world’s most celebrated holidays probably wouldn’t be pleased with all the flowers, candy or gifts.

Anna Jarvis would want us to give mothers a white carnation — she felt it signified the purity of a mother’s love.

Jarvis, who never married and never had children, got the Mother’s Day idea after her mother said it would be nice if someone created a memorial to mothers.

Three years after her mother died in 1905, she organized the first official mother’s day service at a church where her mother had spent more than 20 years teaching Sunday school.

Today, the former Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church is the official shrine to mothers around the world. On Sunday, the shrine will celebrate the 100th anniversary, giving each mother attending a special service a white carnation.

The shrine also serves as a “reminder to the accomplishments of these women and to the issues mothers still deal with today, trying to do the balancing act of being everything to everyone,” said Cindi Mason, the shrine’s director.

From my heart is a Mothers’ Day tribute to four young women who are special to me.

Rebecca is the only girl in our family, and she is the best daughter it is possible to have. She is dear and precious to me. She loves God, loves her son, Nathaniel, loves her mom and dad and the rest of the family. She truly cares for people and goes out of her way to assist needy and troubled people. She has suffered greatly in her life and has been at the point of death several times. I admire her courage, grit and honor.

Dearrah is married to Steve, my eldest, who pastors a church in Chula Vista, CA. Dearrah is from Louisiana, and certainly she epitomizes the term southern hospitality. I have never known a more gracious or talented hostess than Dearrah. She is talented in many other ways as well–leads their church sanctuary choir and is the national ladies leader of the Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship. She’s a great mom–has two sons, and five grandchildren.

Melina is married to Mike and they live here in Lake Havasu. She is a gourmet cook, an entertainer of the first degree; she works out every day (and has the body to prove it), and has been a viable member of the team that has made Buxton Drywall the tremendous success it is. She is such a splendid housekeeper and decorator that, in my opinion, their home should be on the cover of a magazine. Mike and Mel have one son, three daughters and three grandchildren.

Shawnna is married to Andrew, my youngest, who is “planting” a church in LaMesa, CA. Of a quiet and reserved nature, she moved smoothly into the role of pastor’s wife. Shawnna is an exceptionally dedicated mother to their five children. They live in a very small house, but I have never heard her complain about it. (Now, she may have, but I haven’t heard it. ) Because of the ages of their children, and Andrew’s work and preaching schedules, she often stays at home while Andrew travels.

I’m honoring these four special women this morning, and wish them a happy Mothers’ Day.

A happy day to you also–you others who are mothers.

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My devotional blog is here.