Higher Learning With ZeldaSpeaks: How To Use Mother's Day To Stop Violence

The origins of Mother's Day date back to the 1800s, after the Civil War, when so many mothers lost sons in the violent battle between the Northern states and the Southern states over the issue of slavery. During the war, women's peace groups in the United States tried to establish holidays and regular activities in favor of peace and against war. A common early activity was the meeting of groups of mothers whose sons had fought or died on opposite sides of the American Civil War.

The Civil War ended in 1865 and in 1868 Ann Jarvis created a committee to establish a "Mother's Friendship Day", the purpose of which was "to reunite families that had been divided during the Civil War."  Several years later a Mother's Day observance on May 13, 1877 was held in Albion, Michigan  Later, in the early 1880's  the Methodist episcopal Church in Albion set aside the second Sunday in May to recognize the special contributions of mothers.

Today, Mother's Day is widely celebrated as a day to honor mothers. As we look at the loss of lives by gun violence, once again we see mothers suffering. Can we as mothers come together once again with a movement to end violence between warring factions of our youth in the same manner that the earlier mothers did? Can we use the same progamming to stop violence, cure disease and make this world a better place to live? Practice today's Affirmations and see your world change, one day at a time.