• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are
• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are edited. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week’s subject is on nourishment. The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
Kahu Dr. James Fung
Lihu‘e Christian Church
On Sunday Mother’s Day will be celebrated in all of our houses of worship. We honor our mothers for their devotion to their families and for the deep compassion that moves beyond family and influences the very heart and soul of our nation. This day of paying tribute to our mothers has a long history.
The modern-day celebration of Mother’s Day goes back to the Civil War period of recognizing the pain of mothers who lost their sons fighting for either the north or the south. It inspired a movement by women to work for peace.
In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the first proclamation of Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May where governmental offices and private citizens were encouraged to fly the American flag “as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”
Since then Mother’s Day has evolved into the honoring of mothers with flowers, gifts, candy, poems, breakfast in bed etc. It’s all very fitting that we acknowledge the unsung heroes, not only of our families but of our country.
I think of the devotion of the mothers of our congregation and can’t imagine what our community would be without their dedication and contribution. I join our nation on Mother’s day to lift up the words from the Bible, describing these women of deep character saying, “Strength and honor are her clothing … she openth her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness … she look-eth well to her household and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children riseth up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praiseth her.” (Proverbs 31: 25-28)
While we have the opportunity, while our mothers are still with us, let’s let them know what they mean to us.
Topic for two
weeks from today:
• Will you speak to us on
fame?
• Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
• Deadline each week is Tuesday, by 5 p.m.
