What is the intended purpose of Mothers Day?

In 1905, Anna Jarvis began working diligently to create a government-decreed day for mothers to rest. She envisioned that people would attend church and write notes to all moms, living or deceased.

Mothers Day is intended for us to make a promise to show LOVE to all mothers - With words, gifts, acts of affection, and in every way possible, to make her happy as well as keep her heart cheerful every day. And continually keep her in memory on Mothers Day. When you make this promise - never forget or neglect your dear mother - if absent from home write her often - tell her about her good qualities - tell her how much you love her.

Miss Jarvis spent many years and much of her fortune promoting the Mothers Day movement, however in her later years, she was confronted with a problem that required as much or more time and effort as the establishment of Mothers Day. This was her attempt to put a stop to commercialization of the day and exploiting it for extraneous purposes. She did not succeed in preventing such an outcome.