Anna’s Celebration

Oh, see the stained-glass windows of Bible stories. The blue, green, and yellow colors are brilliant.

Anna’s family enters the pew their father purchased below the window of Jesus blessing the little children.

Anna tries to ignore the pinch given by her sister Elsinore, but Anna is a little feisty. When her mother is not looking, Anna sticks her tongue out at Elsinore.

The service is over. Anna, her mother, and little sister go to a lecture room on the lower level. Anna’s mother is the teacher.

Ann Marie has given many lectures on “Mothers of the Bible.” Her last story today is about Mary, the mother of Jesus, including her happiness when she found Him in the temple at twelve years old, her tears when they crucified Him and her joy when He came alive.

Anna listens spellbound. At the end of the lesson, Ann Marie says, “I hope someone establishes a day to honor mothers like Mary, living and dead!”

Her mother’s words plant themselves in Anna’s heart, and she says,

“I hope someone …”

Perhaps, dear reader, we should journey back to the beginning of Ann Marie’s life to understand why she wished for a Mother’s Day celebration. Come along with me.

As autumn leaves fell in Culpeper County, Virginia, on September 30, 1832, a baby girl, Ann Marie Reeves, newly born, was placed in the arms of her reverend father and devoted mother.

Her father’s occupation shaped her life and determined where they lived.

In 1844, he hired a stagecoach to move the family to Philippi, Virginia. Ann Marie, now twelve years old, jumped out, followed by her family. They were excited for a new adventure in an unfamiliar town.

Ann Marie became acquainted with the young people in town; especially a young man named Granville E. Jarvis, and fell madly in love with him. He was gallant and owned a mercantile business.

Ann Marie became a bride at the age of seventeen. They were married on June 18, 1850.

Granville and Ann Marie wanted a large family. By 1864, she had given birth to eight babies, but only two had survived: Josiah and Claude.

Tears of grief were shed as Granville dug small graves and they buried little ones in the town of Philippi and then Webster where they lived for a few years.

Ann Marie’s brother, Dr. James Edmund Reeves, a renowned physician serving on the state board of health, offered comfort.

Sobbing, Ann Marie asked, “Why are my babies dying?”

James answered, “A scientist named Louis Pasteur has found germs so small they can only be seen through a microscope.”

The tears stopped, and Ann Marie’s eyes got big. “What do these germs do?”

“They multiply, causing sickness and death,” replied James.

“But what can be done to get rid of them?” asked Ann Marie.

“You must inspect the food and milk that your little ones eat,” replied James, “Instruct your family to wash their hands often. Clean up smelly outhouses, garbage heaps, and polluted water wells.”

Ann Marie knew other mothers whose babies were dying too. She was determined to help them. As a result, she organized Mothers’ Work Clubs. She taught mothers all over Taylor County about this new scientific discovery.