In 1905, Anna Jarvis of West Virginia in the US stood at her mother’s graveside, reflecting on her mom’s work with Mother’s Day Work Clubs — groups dedicated to educating families on health precautions, such as boiling drinking water to prevent disease.
To honour her mother’s legacy, Anna vowed to establish a day celebrating all mothers and their sacrifices. She fulfilled this promise on May 10, 1908, with the first official Mother’s Day. Her motto for the occasion was, “For the best mother who ever lived — your mother”.
The celebration quickly became popular, but with it came commercialisation. Jarvis grew disillusioned, believing the day had shifted too far from its original purpose. She campaigned against the growing trend of lavish spending, advocating instead for simple, heartfelt gestures — especially handmade gifts.
A mother’s role is to love, guide and nurture her children, provide for their physical needs, offer emotional support, instil values, and serve as a primary influence throughout their lives.
Motherhood is a blessing ordained by God. The Bible teaches that mothers should lead their children towards faith by praying for them, modelling strong character, and imparting wisdom (Proverbs 1:8, 29:15).
The actual greatest mother who ever lived was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who played a vital role in God’s plan of salvation. She was a devoted, loving mother from Jesus’ birth to his resurrection.
Mary is often called the Mother of God, a title that acknowledges her as the mother of Jesus. The Greek term Theotokos (which means “God-bearer”) also affirms Christ’s dual nature — fully God and fully man.
Because Christ is the Head of the Church, and his followers are its Body, Mary is also regarded as the Mother of the Church. She exemplifies the Church’s mission — embracing God’s will, nurturing Jesus, and demonstrating unwavering faith in his teachings.
Mother’s Day is a day to honour all mothers — including single moms, moms coping with loss, foster moms, moms-to-be, those who struggle to become moms, stepmoms, and second moms. It is a time for reflection for those with complicated relationships with their moms and those mourning their moms. It even includes fur baby moms — but don’t expect your pets to surprise you with a bouquet of flowers or breakfast in bed!
Celebrate Mother’s Day with this easy and delicious chocolate brownie recipe. Quick to prepare, these brownies pair beautifully with fresh berries, cream, ice cream, or a drizzle of chocolate sauce. For extra crunch, mix in pecan or macadamia nuts, or add biscuit pieces before baking.
Preparation: 45 min • Servings: 8
Ingredients:
- 200g unsalted butter • 200g dark chocolate chips • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup brown sugar • 1 tsp vanilla extract • ½ cup plain flour • ¼ cup cocoa powder • A pinch of salt
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cover a square tin with cooking spray and line with wax paper.
- Place the butter and chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl and microwave until melted. Stir until smooth.
- Stir in sugar and vanilla, then add the lightly-beaten eggs and mix well.
- Add flour, cocoa and salt and stir until smooth. Stir in chopped chocolate, nuts or biscuits (if desired), and pour into the pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes, then let rest for 10 minutes before lifting out of the pan. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting.
- Enjoy with a prayer for all mothers!
Grazia Barletta is an author, book designer, and food photographer & stylist. She can be contacted at
Follow her blog at www.momentswithgrazia.com and connect with Grazia on Facebook/Instagram: momentswithgrazia
Published in the May 2025 issue of The Southern Cross
- Mother’s Day Chocolate Brownies - May 9, 2026
- Christmas Cinnamon Kringle - December 23, 2025
- St Vincent de Paul’s Rustic Potatoes - September 27, 2025
