Accra: Mothers have been urged to live exemplary lives for children to emulate, as highlighted during a Mother's Day celebration in Accra. Mrs. Benedicta Antwi, wife of Reverend Michael Antwi, Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Pokuase, delivered this message, emphasizing the importance of mothers and female role models in shaping future generations.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Antwi stressed that children and those mentored should experience "a new version of them every year." She pointed out that mothers should be disciplined and patient, handling issues with wisdom to positively influence the next generation. Mrs. Antwi described women as life shapers who nurture, teach, and correct, with godly women also covering families with prayers.
Mrs. Antwi used biblical examples, such as Moses' mother, who trusted God with her child under challenging circumstances. She encouraged mothers to similarly entrust their children to God, emphasizing that God's character-expressed through love, kindness, and faithfulness-serves as a learning model for children through adult actions.
Further elaborating on the origins of Mother's Day, Mrs. Antwi explained it began in the United States when Anna Jarvis held a memorial service in 1908 for her mother, Ann Jarvis, a social activist who supported soldiers during the civil war. Ann Jarvis also initiated Mothers' Friendship Day to foster reconciliation post-war. Inspired by her mother's wish for a commemorative day, Anna Jarvis tirelessly advocated for Mother's Day, leading to its recognition as a national holiday by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. The celebration has since spread globally, adapting to various cultural traditions.