Jack’s Winning Words 5/9/14
“A mother is a person who, seeing that there are only 4 pieces of pie for 5 people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”  (Tenneva Jordan)  The first attempt at starting a Mother’s Day was after the Civil War when groups of mothers, from North and South, whose sons had died in the war, would come together to share their grief.  The modern Mother’s Day has evolved into giving mom that “pie” she missed.    ;-)  Jack  

FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  To give birth, and quite often, to give birth more than once: that's something special! For myself, skipping a piece of pie is merely a mannerism of consistency! A mother carries life and brings life into form through her discomfort and sometimes even her own life. And this is by her choice: a willful decision to take on not only childbirth; but motherhood itself. I think words escape a description of the honorable mother. So, we have Mothers Day. I think, for men at least, it should include some moments of silence to reflect on what the whole experience must be like -- even if it can only be accomplished through our imaginations!====JACK:  Mothering, of course, is more than giving birth.  But, you're right in saying that giving birth is beyond man's imagination.

FROM PEPPERMINT MARY:  i miss my mom.  she used to take me out for blueberry pie once a month.  it was so special.====JACK:  There were many things special about her.  Isn't the ability to remember, a great gift?====MARY:  yes it is, and as she always told me, "the soul would have no rainbow had the eye no tear".  she understood my flowing eyes.  they have been flowing for her since her birthday, may 2nd.  she and daddy gave me permission to be who i am.  it's not a weakness, but a strength to wear one's emotions on the outside.

FROM TARMART REV:  Well spoken, Jack!====JACK:  One of my first Winning Words was, "Virtue is learned at mother's knee.  Vice is learned at other joints."

FROM PH IN MINNESOTA:  Jack,  i hate to tell you this but i don't think  you have this right.  as i have studied it,  it was the Mothers from both North and South after the civil war who wanted to remember their sons and this was the origin of Memorial Day, NOT mother's day.   Anna Jarvis first proposed the idea of a mother's day after her mother died.  that was 1907 and Anna lived in Grafton, West Virginia.   the idea caught on with Anna's strong efforts for promotion and Woodrow Wilson signed a congressional declaration in 1914 stating that the 2nd Sunday in May would become Mother'd Day.  he obviously did not know that this was also the big fishing opener her in Minnesota!   i am pretty sure that all of the above is correct. take care.====JACK:  Yes, I know that about "Decoration Day," but in my research, I found sources that put the beginning of Mother's Day in the post-Civil War era.  Most historians, as you state, trace the start of Mother's Day to 1907, give or take a couple of years.====PH:  perhaps the real story somehow got lost somewhere in the dust of history...====JACK:  The "real" story takes place every time a child gives his/her mother a home-made "Mother's Day" card for the first time.

FROM TRIHARDER:  I'm quite sure you saw Kevin Garnet's MVP award acceptance speech singling out his mother.====JACK:  The expressions on the faces of both son and mother showed that there was a lot of  "remembering" going on.

FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER:  A loving family would each give a fifth of their pie. ====JACK:  Most families aren't the Cleavers.

FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  As a mother, I'm enjoying reading your blog this morning, amused even, we mothers realize motherhood is an awesome, mysterious experience and the celebration of the day thinking and remembering us is even better that no one seems to have "the facts" about the holiday. We're just here and our sacrificial love and the urge to do it as mysterious and basically incredible to me, at least, even as how I came to have faith in God. Actually, I believe the babies' big eyes, soft skin and utter helplessness call the love out from us. And just to be fair to the fathers, out from them too.====JACK:  ...and soon to be a mother-in-law.  Will he call you Mom or Sharon or Mrs H?

FROM BB IN ILLINOIS:  Amen!  Imagine you know the piece below well.  I am sharing it on Facebook and hope that tomorrows rally in Daley Plaza on behalf of Bring Back our Girls is well-attended.
Mothers' Day Proclamation: Julia Ward Howe, Boston, 1870
Mother's Day was originally started after the Civil War, as a protest to the carnage of that war, by women who had lost their sons. Here is the original Mother's Day Proclamation from 1870, followed by a bit of history (or should I say "herstory"):
Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts,
whether our baptism be that of water or of fears!
Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by
irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking
with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be
taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach
them of charity, mercy and patience.
We women of one country will be too tender of those of another
country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From
the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance
of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons
of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a
great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women,
to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the
means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each
bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
but of God.
In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a
general congress of women without limit of nationality may be
appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at
the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the
alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement
of international questions, the great and general interests of
peace.  (Julia Ward Howe - Boston - 1870)
====JACK:  Each of those Nigerian girls has a mother who worries about their welfare.  All caring mothers join them in worrying...and praying fore their safe return.====BB:  When I hear about human trafficking/slavery it is deeply disturbing.  I thought the same as you – families grieving – perhaps even worse than death where you can commend them to the arms of the Lord at least….

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  This was certainly true in our family.  My mom was an old-fashioned mom:  we grew and canned our fruit, veggies and even pie-filling.  We had to be home when the street lights turned on.  Homework was done right away.  I never got physically punished but my mom made us sit in a chair until we either fell asleep or she thought we had learned our lesson.  She is missed but we will be together again.====JACK:  "They may call me old-fashioned, but I think....."  Can you finish that sentence?