Now Is the Time to Play
Baha'i Stories Blog · Read original
When in Bahá'í history

In his recollections of those early years one of the Bahá'ís has written that one day Shoghi Effendi entered the Master's room, took up His pen and tried to write. 'Abdu'l-Bahá drew him to His side, tapped him gently on the shoulder and said "Now is not the time to write, now is the time to play, you will write a lot in the future." Nevertheless the desire of the child to learn led to the formation of classes in the Master's household for the children, taught by an old Persian believer. I know that at one time in his childhood, most likely while he was still living in 'Akká, Shoghi Effendi and other grandchildren were taught by an Italian, who acted as governess or teacher; a grey-haired elderly lady, she came to call shortly after I was married.
(Rúḥíyyih Khánum, 'The Priceless Pearl', p. 9)
Source: Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2012/12/shoghi-effendis-desire-to-write-even-at.html).
Cite this story
Various. *Baha'i Stories Blog*. https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2012/12/shoghi-effendis-desire-to-write-even-at.html
Record yourself reading this story
Recording stays on this device only. Nothing is uploaded.
Related stories
The Master Comforts the Infant Shoghi Effendi
When the infant Shoghi Effendi woke crying one night, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had him brought so that He could comfort him, and told the Greatest Holy Leaf, “See, already he has dreams!”
Stories from the Childhood of Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi's boyhood in the household of his grandfather 'Abdu'l-Bahá: his name, morning prayers and breakfast with the Master, the Tablet telling him to memorize and chant prayers, and the surname Rabbani.
Mornings in the Master’s Room
In Shoghi Effendi’s childhood the family rose at dawn to pray and take breakfast with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His room. The children sat quietly and chanted when asked, and Shoghi Effendi learned to be always the first up and on time.
Shoghi Effendi at School in Beirut
Shoghi Effendi, the grandson of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, was often unhappy at school in Beirut, but he studied hard so that one day he could serve his grandfather and translate His letters into English.