Juliet Thompson was painting the Master's portrait in America
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When in Bahá'í history
Juliet Thompson was painting the Master's portrait in America. Lua Getsinger and May Maxwell came into the library, crossed over to where she was sitting and stood behind her. The Master looked up and smiled at May. 'You have a kind heart, Mrs. Maxwell.' Then he turned to Lua. You, Lua, have a tender heart. And what kind of heart have you, Juliet?' He laughed. 'What kind of heart have you?'
'Oh, what kind of heart have I? You know, my Lord. I don't know.' 'An emotional heart.' He laughed again and rolled His hands one round the other in a sort of tempestuous gesture. 'You will have a boiling heart, Juliet. Now,' He continued, 'if these three hearts were united into one heart -- kind, tender and emotional -- what a great heart that would be!'
Source: Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 46
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: inner-life).
Discuss this story
For adults
- Where do you see kindness appearing — visibly or quietly — in this passage?
- How does this story complicate or deepen your understanding of inner life?
- Read the closing lines once more. What single phrase stays with you?
For teens
- Who is someone you know who lives out kindness the way this story describes?
- If you were going to tell a friend this story in two sentences, what would you say?
Reflection
- Take one line from this story and let it stay with you today.
- What in this account feels timely? What feels timeless?
- How does kindness show up in your life right now — and where is it being asked of you?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "Juliet Thompson was painting the Master's portrait in America" drawn from?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
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Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/inner-life
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