[In the afternoon the children who had earlier seen the
Master on the way from school, had been so attracted and had asked to see Him,
came to visit Him. He spoke to them with deep affection and kindness, asking
about their health and welfare. To each He gave candies and flowers and then
sprinkled them with attar of rose. He then gave them kindly counsels and
encouraged them to acquire knowledge, science, good morals and sincerity,
saying:]
I hope that you will be educated as you ought to be and that
each of you will become the pride of your family. May God assist you to acquire
divine knowledge in the school of the world of humanity. I shall pray for you
and beg assistance for you. Truly, the hearts of the children are very pure.
This was why Christ said, `Be ye like children.' Praise be to God who created
you illumined children. Praise be to the Lord who hath created His creatures
perfectly. God has created you as human beings so that you may daily acquire
better morals and human virtues. You must obey your parents so that they may be
pleased with you, and so that God will be pleased with you, and that you may
become the children of the Kingdom and mirror forth the words of Christ.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, November 24, New York, recorded by Mahmud
Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
