He Came to Her

*A retelling for children, based on **Mahmúd's Diary** (entry of 14 July 1912).*

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There was an old woman who wanted, more than anything, to meet 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

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But there was a problem. Her foot was hurt, and she could not walk. All around the city, crowds of people were going to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá — filling the rooms where He spoke, lining up at His door. She could only stay home and wish she could be one of them. It made her very sad.

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'Abdu'l-Bahá was busier than almost anyone you could imagine. From morning until night, more and more people came to see Him. He had so little time, and so many visitors.

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But when He heard about the old woman who could not come to Him, He did not say, "She will have to wait." He did not say, "Let someone carry her here." Instead, He decided to go to *her*.

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And so, one day, there was a knock at the old woman's own front door — and when it opened, there stood 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Imagine her joy! The very person she had given up hope of ever seeing had come all the way across the city, just for her.

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It would have been so easy for one old woman to be forgotten in such a big, busy crowd. But 'Abdu'l-Bahá never forgot the ones other people overlooked. She could not come to Him — so He came to her. That is what love does: it goes the extra distance, especially for the people who need it most.

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["He Came to Her"](/stories/md-he-came-to-her).*

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