by Rev. Sarah Pirtle May 11, 2026

This spring’s Mother’s Day is over, but few know its origin story. The flame of its spirit needs to linger. This is a holiday meant to propel us forward in a positive direction that continues long after the day has passed. The original intention of Mother’s Day was meant to do just that. It began 156 years ago.

Back in the spring of 1865 the wrenching Civil War had ended. In Boston in 1870 Julia Ward Howe began her Mother’s Day Peace Proclamation, “Arise, then women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts.” Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910) wanted women to come together and insist upon the eradication of war. She also campaigned against slavery and campaigned for women to have the vote. For years she organized this special Mother’s Day in Boston.

When I asked several people if they had heard of the initial vision of Mother’s Day, no one had. Her words have a familiar ring for us today: “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.”

Her aim was to speak “earnestly in the name of womanhood and of humanity.” She called out, “Disarm, disarm! The sword is not the balance of justice.” She also said the earth joined her in declaring for peace.

When she made her proclamation, primarily she called for “a general congress of women… to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.”

What if we had met year after year in such a congress!

In essence, Julia Ward Howe’s words give voice to what those in the No Kings demonstrations are saying today. And those who gathered this May Day in public demonstrations a week before Mother’s Day, are making a similar call to halt business as usual so that we can face the need for essential change.

If we were delegates to a global peace congress, what would we say to each other now? What would we be doing to act from our common hearts to create the common good?

People are seeking a deeper level of what Mother’s Day means in this time of chaos and challenge. “Honoring moms means protecting children and families from cruel cuts to health care, food aid, schools, Head Start, and immigrant safety,” says Laurie Woodward Garcia. Her group called People Power United sent out a call entitled, “Care Is Power: A Mother’s Day Call to Action.”

What stays with us from this holiday? Flowers from gift bouquets given this Mother’s Day live on in a vase. Photographs show us what family gatherings were like. As we care for the earth and each other, we keep the flame of the human family alive.

It helps me to picture all the ways that people in our local community show passionate concern. Thanks to all of you for what you do. It matters.

Rev. Sarah Pirtle lives in Shelburne Falls.