Whatever you do, be sure to spell the names of these holidays correctly! Sometimes people place the apostrophe in the wrong place (i.e., Mothers’ Day—instead of Mother’s Day; Fathers’ Day—instead of Father’s Day). In doing so, we give the wrong idea. Anna Jarvis, the person most responsible for the way we currently celebrate Mother’s Day, emphasized the idea that these days are personal.

We celebrate, not all mothers or motherhood in general, but our own mothers in particular. We show appreciation, not to fathers in general, but to our own fathers in particular.

This does not mean we must observe Mother’s and Father’s Day only at home! Church is the perfect place to do so!  Almost every Christian I know has at least one person they consider “my father in the faith” or “my mother in the faith.” These are people who have witnessed to us, taught us, mentored us, warned us, encouraged us, and helped us grow. Whether the individuals we call “Mom” and “Dad” are believers or not, we all need as many “mothers” and “fathers” in the faith as we can get. And your church can encourage the behaviors that make it more likely your members will see it as a spiritually nurturing place.

Whether you would ordinarily observe Mother’s Day and Father’s Day or not, in this centenial year, you may want to consider using these days to highlight the critical role played by Christian mentors.

(You can read more details about the history of Mother’s Day here and Father’s Day here.)

Mother’s Day began in one, small West Virginia congregation in 1907 at the suggestion of Anna M. Jarvis. But by 1909, it had spread to 46 states. Its popularity that year firmly established it as a national observance. In 1909, Mother’s Day was here to stay.

That same year, 1909, Sonora Dodd first proposed a national “Father’s Day.” Partly because Mother’s Day had become so popular, Father’s Day, too, soon gained national acceptance. It, too, was with us to stay.

(For more information, read these articles on the history of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.)