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Mother's Day 2007 Ocala Today, is as we well know Mothers Day. I would like to further describe it as Holy Day, because, as God created, so do mothers, not only give birth to their children, but with any measure they sacrifice themselves for their children. We read the biographies of famous world personalities, and so many of them give most of the credit for their success to their mothers. I like what Abraham Lincoln immortalized about his mother, when he said: "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my darling mother." The resource material regarding Mothers, who nurtured world famous personalities, is endless. We thank God for signaling this special day to honor mothers. It is a most fitting tribute, and no less the gratitude we sense for them, who often are synonymous with the word "sacrifice." Although celebrated in different ways and times all over the world, and was not absent from the Ancient Greek and Roman times. In our Country, this Day was copied from England by a social activist Julia Ward Howe, after the Civil War in 1865, calling women to unite against war; however, her efforts were in vain. But, a young homemaker Ann Jarvis started a crusade to establish a memorial Day for women. When Ann Jarvis died, early in the 20th century her daughter continued the drive to establish this Holiday. By 1912 45 States had accepted it; and it was in 1914 that President Woodrow Wilson declared the first National Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to display the flag in honor of those mothers, whose sons had died in war. Only nine years after this Holiday became national, the commercialization of this Holy Day became so rampant, that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the Holiday had become. I wonder if she was living today, what she would do. Unfortunately, it is beyond sadness, that even the Holiest Religious Days, have been decimated I would say, by rampant commercialization. But, for this rash commercialization we are paying a very high price, in that the noblest ideals and virtues have been compromised. Everything today seems to have as its target, what's in it for me, and how much can I make, disregarding the ways and means. A couple of days ago, I once again was shocked, and questioned myself, as to how low people and situations can get. There, on the morning news was a gigantic billboard of a famous law firm in Chicago advertising the following phrase: "Get a divorce; life is too short!" I was appalled and thought to myself how better the world was when it was forbidden for lawyers to advertise. Fortunately thousands of people jammed the wire services explaining their shock and dismay. As a result, the ad was short-lived, because it was removed hours after it was posted. Then, a few days ago I heard that the superintendent of schools declared Good Friday as just another school day and Monday after Easter classes resume. Thus, another shock for Christians, and business goes on as usual for those, who have succeeded to minimize and confine what are the most glorious Days for believers. Our Nation was founded on Christian foundations, but this is not very recognizable in our day, after suffering a couple of generations of attacks, on the principles that made our Country great. It appears that the vocal minority has subjugated the silent majority. For some of us that are old enough to make comparisons there is no question that there has been a diametrical change. It's unfortunate that the family unit has broken down, which brings to mind the Biblical phrase: "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it." We've created so many needs, many of which are unnecessary, but as families and the openness in today's society we almost have no choice. The mother of yesteryear had a most influential part in the rearing of her family. Today, because of many and varied demands, the mothers were shouldered with careers, which totally have changed the picture at home, when everybody now is so busy, they have to practically make an appointment to see one another. It seems we're all in a stream with the current being swift. It is no effort to conform, but in conforming, one must sacrifice to some degree even basic principles. The salmon, as we know swim upstream against the current. This is something, serious people must consider, especially when everyone you speak with is unhappy the way conditions have degenerated. Somehow, we have to go against the current. The home is ultra important to transmit the true values to our children from the earliest years of reason. The children should learn not to live by comparisons. They must learn to be grateful that they have caring parents, who strive for the best for their children, and by this we mean the intangibles, the eternal values and virtues, which seem to be escaping so many people. I will concede that conscientious parents have a most difficult task today to raise their children in the ways that they were raised, that is with discipline, respect and what we may call "tough love!" Difficult I say because there is a wrong interpretation of freedom, which to most young ones is translated into license. True freedom has its disciplines which so many fail to comprehend. Having served the Metropolitan New York area for 30 years, from 1942 to 1972 when I was assigned to organize the Ionian Village in Greece, I still maintain bond with my schoolchildren of the 40's, who now are grandparents. Each time I went through New York, in recent years, through telephone squads a Luncheon was arranged on short notice at which we always had close to 100 attend. A most recent reunion was on our Cruise last February where we met privately. I must tell you that practically all those grandparents were born and reared in the cold tenement flats of Manhattan, but between the wholesome upbringing at home and the Cathedral with its Greek and Sunday Schools along with the youth groups brought out the best in our youth. Born and raised as they were, according to today's standard they were sorely underprivileged. How proud I heard repeatedly that not a single one of the couple hundred young ones went astray. They stuck to the traditional values and the warmth of Mother and Father, living only for the kids. By common opinion among them they repeated many times, that while they didn't have the material goodies being poor, yet they felt enriched by the nourishment they were receiving in their soul. These, and countless others, are what we would call the backbone of our Country. Today, our young ones have more than they'll ever need, but yet they feel bored and impoverished. Where the solution lies I do not know, but commencing from the head of our Country down to the last citizen the word is "self-discipline" and the wish to regain at least a shadow of the old, when each person of the family knew and had his or her place, and together they worked on their problems. In our glorious Orthodox Christian Tradition we emphasize Family life and especially extol the worth of Mothers and Fathers for their guidance and self sacrifice. The Fathers we'll honor next month, Mother's Day 2007 Ocala but today we salute and congratulate the Mothers present, thanking them for all that they do for their Family and for our beloved Mission. As for the Mothers reposing in the Lord, we offer our prayers for them to our merciful and loving God. Amen. + Fr. George Papadeas
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