Happy Mother's Day!

Although I can't help feeling a twinge of guilt when I think of Anna Jarvis (the woman who founded Mother's Day as a holiday of peace and social justice, only to deplore its commercialization in later years), I do love going out to breakfast and getting chocolate and flowers. (For the past few days, Ben had been telling me, "You'll get your present on Mother's Day. It's candy. It's a surprise.") A fellow mother-friend sent me a lovely bracelet with several charms: a book, a computer mouse, a butterfly, a chocolate bar, hands of friendship, a ballet shoe, and a butterfly. Although I agree the holiday is too commercial, far be it from me to turn down presents.... At the same time, though, the ads screaming at us to treat Mom to a $200 spa day are a far cry from the holiday's original spirit.

The Unitarian chapel we've been going to had their annual flower communion this morning: everyone brings a flower, and then the flowers are put in baskets and everyone takes a new one. The flowers represent the community: varied and unique beings that are beautiful when brought together. I got a slightly wilted peony, a flower that I love. The imagery of growth and beauty in the service made me think back to Anna Jarvis. Sometimes the world seems sorely in need of mothering.