Violets and a Waterfall

A retelling for children, based on The Diary of Juliet Thompson (Thonon, 25 August 1911). The words in quotation marks are 'Abdu'l-Bahá's own, as Juliet wrote them down.

It was the summer of 1911, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá was staying at Thonon, a town on the shore of Lake Geneva. One afternoon He went for a drive in the countryside with three friends: Juliet, Laura and Hippolyte.

They stopped at a country inn. As 'Abdu'l-Bahá stepped out of the car, about fifteen village children crowded around Him, holding up little bunches of purple violets to sell. Juliet never forgot the loving way He looked at them. He bought all the violets, taking handfuls of coins from His pocket.

Then He walked into the forest to see a place famous for its beauty. On the drive home they came to a great waterfall pouring down a black cliff. 'Abdu'l-Bahá stopped the car, walked to the very edge, and stood a long time watching the water. Then He sat on a rock above it. All through the drive He kept pointing things out to His friends: the bright green fields and hills, the neat villages, a tiny village high up among the mountains.

Later Juliet said to Him that she wished they could follow Him everywhere, all through their lives, as the disciples of Christ had followed Christ. 'Abdu'l-Bahá smiled at her and said:

We are together now. Be happy in the present.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Be Happy in the Present".

Thompson, J.. (1947). *The Diary of Juliet Thompson*. Kalimát Press. https://bahai-library.com/thompson_diary