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"O Handmaids of the Lord!..."
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278 |
O Handmaids of the Lord!
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The spiritual assemblage that ye established in that illumined city is
most propitious. Ye have made great strides; ye have surpassed the others,
have arisen to serve the Holy Threshold, and have won heavenly bestowals. Now
with all spiritual zeal must ye gather in that enlightened assemblage and
recite the Holy Writings and engage in remembering the Lord. Set ye forth His
arguments and proofs. Work ye for the guidance of the women in that land,
teach the young girls and the children,so that the mothers may educate their
little ones from their earliest days, thoroughly train them, rear them to have
a goodly character and good morals, guide them to all the virtues of humankind,
prevent the development of any behaviour that would be worthy of blame, and
foster them in the embrace of Bahá'í education. Thus shall these tender
infants be nurtured at the breast of the knowledge of God and His love. Thus
shall they grow and flourish, and be taught righteousness and the dignity of
humankind, resolution and the will to strive and to endure. Thus shall they
learn perseverance in all things, the will to advance, high-mindedness and high
resolve, chastity and purity of life. Thus shall they be enabled to carry to a
successful conclusion whatsoever they undertake.
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280 |
Let the mothers consider that whatever concerneth the education of
children is of the first importance. Let them put forth every effort in this
regard, for when the bough is green and tender it will grow in whatever way ye
train it. Therefore is it incumbent upon the mothers to rear their little ones
even as a gardener tendeth his young plants. Let them strive by day and by
night to establish within their children faith and certitude, the fear of God,
the love of the Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and traits.
Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and
applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should
manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based
on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary. It is
not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child's
character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal
abuse.
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281 |
("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá", Sec. 95,
pp. 124-25) [89]
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