We Want Our Father
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When in Bahá'í history
Haifa (today: Haifa, Israel)
When a Turkish man, living in Haifa, lost his position, he, his wife and children were in desperate need. They went to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for help and were naturally greatly aided. When the poor man became ill, again the Master stood ready to help. He provided a doctor, medicine and provisions to make him comfortable. When this man felt he was to die, he asked for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and called his children to him. “Here”, he told the children, “is your father, who will take care of you when I am gone.”
One morning four small children arrived at the home of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and announced, “We want our father.” The Master, hearing their voices, knew who they were. They shared their sorrow with Him—their own father had died. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá brought them in and gave them drink, sweets and cakes. He then went with them to their home. Their announcement had been premature—their father had merely fainted, but the next day he passed away. The Master arranged for the funeral and provided food, clothing and travel-tickets for the family to go to Turkey. His sympathetic heart was as wide as the universe.
Source: Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 66–67
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: sympathy).
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