May is the fifth month of the year.  The origin of the word is a combination of the Roman goddess, Maia Majesta, who was the goddess of fertility and growth, and the Greek name, Maia, also a goddess and her name meant mother, nurse, or midwife.

            As such, May can be viewed as the month of life, and motherhood.  It is no wonder May is synonymous with flowers, growth, and birth.  After all, we have Mother’s Day, which falls on Sunday, the 14th, this year.  The May flower is the Hawthorne and the Lilly of the Valley.  The gemstone is emerald; a beautiful deep green symbolizing lush vegetation and plant life. The emerald my favorite gemstone.  The flower moon appears on Friday, May 5.  For best viewing of this bright and magical full moon, step outside on the night of the 4th or the 5th.  Hopefully, you will have a clear sky on one of those nights and be able to truly experience it.

            Mother’s Day, a well-deserved holiday for mothers, was instituted by Woodrow Wilson in 1914 as a legal holiday dedicated to “the best mother in the world, your mother.”  It was meant to honor all mothers living or dead for the nurture of children and sacrifice they made for their children.

            The Catholic church has also designated May as the month of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the church.  Catholics pray to Mary for her intercession and honor her as a spiritual mother.

            In the early church, May 15 was a major feast day in honor of the Blessed Mother.  In 1945, Pope Pius the 12th solidified May as a Marion month after establishing the Feast of the Queenship of Mary on May 31.  The Lilly of the Valley is a flower associated with Mary as a symbol of her purity and openness to God’s will.  Mothers can be both biological, as well as spiritual.  Think of Mother Theresa.  When I researched the definition of mother and the characteristics of motherhood, I found the following eight qualities:

  • patience; (2) respect; (3) strong; (4) humble; (5) empathetic; (6) authoritative; (7) supportive. I would also add loving and sacrificial, hard-working, and nurturing.

May is a time to recognize the gift of motherhood. Some suggestions to honor or celebrate the “mothers” in your life are.

            1.         Pamper her with a spa day.

            2.         Serve her breakfast in bed and allow her to sleep in.

            3.         Have a no chores day for Mom by you doing what she has to do.

            4.         Buy her flowers.

            6.         Spend quality time together. Perhaps go on a picnic, take a walk together, spend a day at a botanical garden, take her to a show or movie or go to church together.

            7.         Make a scrapbook of memories to present to her. 

            8.         Write her a letter or poem about how much you love her and appreciate all she has done for you.

            If sadly you have lost your Mom or are estranged; be kind to yourself on this day. Honor her love and memory with some of the activities above, either alone, with someone that is a mother to you now, or engage in one of the activities to remember her by. If you are separated attempt to reach out and hold no bitterness in your heart remembering May is a celebration of life.