On Training Children
'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas, (1909) · Read original
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O thou who hast humbled thyself before the Kingdom of God!
Blessed art thou that thine heart is attracted to the Beauty of God, is illumined with the light of knowledge and the ray of the Kingdom hath shone within it.
Know thou, verily, God is with thee under all circumstances and guards thee from the concerns of the world and makes thee a servant in His great vineyard.
As to thy question concerning training children: It is incumbent upon thee to nurture them from the breast of the love of God, to urge them towards spiritual matters, to turn unto God and to acquire good manners, best characteristics and praiseworthy virtues and qualities in the world of humanity, and to study sciences with the utmost diligence; so that they may become spiritual, heavenly and attracted to the fragrances of sanctity from their childhood and be reared in a religious, spiritual and heavenly training. Verily, I beg of God to confirm them therein.
As to thy revered husband: It is expedient that thou shouldst behave toward him in the best way and persevere in his good pleasure (i.e., please him) and treat him with kindness under all aspects; until (or so that) he may find that through thy turning toward the Kingdom of God (i.e., by becoming a believer) thy affection toward him and thy love for God is increased and that thou hast regard for his good will in every condition.
Verily, I beg of God to make thee steadfast in His love and to cause thee to diffuse the fragrances of sanctity in those places (i.e., to teach the Truth).
Source: 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas (1909). Public domain text from Project Gutenberg eBook #19312.
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'Abdu'l-Bahá. (1909). *Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas*. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19312/pg19312-images.html
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