On May 12, 1907 a small service was held to honor Mother's at Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, where Anna's mom once taught Sunday school. However, the first "official" service was one year later on May 10, 1908 in the same church. A much larger ceremony was also held in the Wanamaker Auditorium in John Wanamaker's store in Philadelphia. New York followed suit the following year where celebrations were widely reported. Seeing her mother's dreams starting to become a reality, Anna Jarvis campaigned to establish Mother's Day, first as a U.S. national holiday and later as an international holiday. On May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress passed a law designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and requested a proclamation. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation declaring the first national Mother's Day as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.

Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, where the first Mother's Day service was held, was incorporated as the International Mother's Day Shrine in 1962 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992.

Sadly, over the years, Mother's Day, just like other annual celebrations, has become more and more commercialized. Today, despite the economy, Americans spend a whopping $2.6 billion on flowers, $1.53 billion on pampering gifts and $68 million on greeting cards. Mother's Day founder Anna Jarvis herself, after only several years, could see that the holiday was becoming commercialized and spent the rest of her life, as well as all her inheritance, trying to fight the abuse of the annual celebration that she had created in her mother's honor.

Sunday May 13th is Mother's Day, a day in which to honor all mothers by thanking them for all they have done and is a good opportunity for those who are not usually good at expressing their emotions, to show just how much they really do care about their dear old mom.

To let you in on a little secret - having been a mother myself for over 40 years - generally, mom's do not wish for expensive gifts and Hallmark cards from their children, especially on Mothers Day. It really is the thought that counts. If a visit to her home is not possible, a quick phone call will suffice. Just a simple "Happy Mother's Day, Ma," says it all and lets her know you have remembered her. For those living in the same house or close by to Mom, treat her to breakfast or coffee in bed, served on a covered tray with a single rose. Take her to breakfast or brunch at her favorite restaurant. Maybe find out beforehand which restaurants are offering a special Mother's Day menu. No need to choose an expensive restaurant, the fact that their son or daughter wants to spend time with them is more valuable than the actual treat. Maybe take her for her favorite dessert or ice cream, she will love that too.

If you really want to pull at Mom's heart strings, write her a poem. It doesn't have to be good, or even perfectly rhyme, it's the words that matter. If not a poem, simply list on a piece of paper all the positive things she has done for you throughout your life and the reasons you love her.

Even though you may attend a different church to your mother each Sunday, go with her to her church on Mother's Day. She will really appreciate that and will make her so proud.

As a child, I always remember asking my mom what gift she would like, whether it be for her Birthday, Christmas or Mother's Day. Her answer would always be the same, "nothing." After insisting on wanting to buy her something, she'd reply, "Okay, buy me a Mars bar," referring to the chocolate candy bar, which at that time was just a few pennies. At the time it used to infuriate me, but now of course it makes sense. A mother's greatest gift is LOVE.

In Loving memory of my Mum, 1914 to 1991.

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