Sunday is Mother’s Day, when young and old, male and female, pay homage to mothers, both singular and collective, around the world.

Without a mother, none of us would be here. By taking the time to reflect on our mothers, we can understand better our roles in life as fathers, siblings, children, and, yes, mothers.

Although many might think the day is another day thought up by greeting card companies and florists, the reality is there has been a Mother’s Day celebration of some sort or another throughout recorded history.

The earliest history of a mother’s day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses. Ancient Romans, too, celebrated a spring festival, called Hilaria dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. That festival began some 250 years before Christ was born

Early Christians celebrated a mother’s day of sorts during the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ. In England the holiday was expanded to include all mothers. It was then called Mothering Sunday. That holiday has evolved over time into the Mother’s Day of our current age.

We, too, would like to take a minute to say thanks to all the mothers who have passed on their love, wisdom, passion, and forgiveness. We couldn’t have come this far without you.