The Master Listens to a Little Child

In the winter of 1905 the American believer Mary L. Lucas spent eight days as a pilgrim in the household of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká. In the little book she wrote afterwards, she described the Master with the children of His family:

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> It is beautiful to see the Master with the little children and observe His > consideration for their childish troubles. One morning His tiny > grand-daughter, about two years old, was talking to the Master in the most > serious way, telling Him with expressive gesticulations her difficulty. > Something had gone crosswise with her. The Master without a smile listened > most attentively. This was a great lesson.

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When we consider what the Master > has to bear — a man of ordinary strength could not endure it one hour — yet > when a little child comes and confides in Him her trouble, how tender, how > loving He is! How forgetful of self! > > Shall I ever forget the heavenly smile and love expressed in that beautiful > face when this tiny maiden was chanting for Him a Tablet!

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Every now and then > she would forget a word, and He would gently chant it for her, while He drank > His tea, seated in the corner of the divan. How the little children love Him!

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(Mary L. Lucas, A Brief Account of My Visit to Acca, Chicago: Bahai Publishing Society, 1905, p. 16; also retold in Annamarie Honnold, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, no. 84, "Love for children")

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