Why we really give flowers to mothers

A colorful spectrum of stunning flowers lines the markets today – and will be placed in the tender hands of mothers tomorrow. Flowers came to Mothers’ Day back in 1907 when the holiday’s founder, Anna Jarvis, distributed white carnations in honor of her mother’s favorite flower… but there are several deeper reasons why Mother Nature’s jewels and our early mothers go hand-in-hand.

1. Mothers and flowers are both delicate and pure – and that’s a good thing. “The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.” – Margaret D. Nadauld, “The Joy of Womanhood,” October 2000 General Conference.

2. Both flowers and mothers are nurtured by their roots. I am so thankful for many generations of strong, faith-filled women (in fact, here’s an article I wrote about five generations of women in my family)

3. Both mothers and flowers are photokinetic – meaning they follow the light. Flower heads follow the sun, and “Mothers who Know”  follow the Son of God.

4. Mothers and flowers are built blossom by blossom, with all blossoms attached to one central point. Interestingly, a flowers’ central point is the pistil, or ovary … and a mothers’ central point is often what comes forth from the ovaries.

5. Flowers and mothers come in a great variety – each adds its pop of color to brighten and unique scent to freshen this world.

So, when you buy those blooms for your mom … or receive the bouquets from your brood, think deep and see what other meanings come into bud.