Message from:          Ettie Rutherford

Ontario Provincial Rep.

May 2007

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“Mothers Day”  

The records show that as far back as 1899 Mary Towles Sasseen of Henderson, Kentucky was working on the idea of having a designated day to honor mothers. However, we know that long before that time mothers in the Black community were being honored, respected and feared because of the pivotal roll which they were forced to play in their families. Slavery and abandonment left them no choice.

Last year I urged our chapters to focus on programs that would be beneficial to the women in our various communities as they strive to fulfill their role as mothers. How well have we done. Since then, many mothers have celebrated births, graduations, weddings and family re-unions, but many have also been burdened by the loss of loved ones, abandonment, violence and the sorrow of seeing their children acting in ways that are less than desirable .Whatever your case might have been let us pray for all mothers, exhort those who need assistance and reach out and  mentor children who are going astray because some mothers are overwhelmed as well as being “sick and tired” of being sick and tired .

This month as we celebrate Mother’s Day, we as Black women must remember how our mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, godmothers, aunties, neighbors, and mentors helped us to “cross over”. We can do no less for others.

I pray that God will bless you and your families during this very special month of reflection and celebration .

In Sisterhood !

“Happy Mother’s Day”