Warden of the Báb witnesses a miracle

The Báb was a Prophet of God. He was sent by God to teach us how to live, and so, He was perfect. Are we perfect? We all know that children and even moms and dads are not perfect and we sometimes make mistakes. God sent us the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh so that we could learn to be better and better. Here is an example of one such case:

One time, God showed a man named 'Ali Khan a miracle. A miracle is something very wonderful that happens, but we can't understand how it happens. This miracle proved to ‘Ali Khan that the Báb was God's Prophet. This was a sign of God's love for 'Ali Khan.

At this time the Báb was in a terrible prison up in the mountains far from His home. His warden, the man who takes care of the prison, was this 'Ali Khan. He wouldn't let anyone come and see the Báb. This was a sad thing because so many people loved the Báb and they couldn't speak to Him or know if He was well. The Báb had only His secretary with Him, who would write down the Báb's precious Words as He spoke, and the secretary's brother who would buy things in the town.

There was a man who, because he loved the Báb very much, was called a Bábí. This man had traveled a long way just to see the Báb, but when he got to the town near the prison the warden wouldn't let him see the Báb. Not only that, he wouldn't let him sleep in the town. But this Bábí wouldn't give up. He wanted to see the Báb so much he stayed by the town and slept outside the gates.

The Báb knew about this Bábí. One day He told His secretary that the next day this Bábí would come into the prison to see them. His secretary was very surprised. How could he come into the prison? The warden wouldn't let anyone come in to see them!

Stories from the childhood of Shoghi Effendi

As the neighborhood was preparing for the Muslim Fast of Ramadan, one household near the prison of 'Akka was already celebrating a happy event. Diya'iyyih Khanum, the eldest daughter of 'Abdu'l Baha, and Mirza Hadi Shirazi had a new son. The date was March 1, 1897.

The proud Grandfather, 'Abdu'l-Baha, gave the name of Shoghi Effendi to the little boy. He said that everyone should use the title "Effendi", which means "mister" or "sir", as a term of respect for the new child, even his parents. The name Shoghi means "the one who longs". In one tablet written for Shoghi Effendi, 'Abdu'l-Baha asks that he may yearn for the Kingdom of God and soar into the realms of the unseen!

One morning, Shoghi Effendi woke up to the crowing of roosters. The sun was just dawning over the tops of the sun-baked roofs of the town. He and the other children of the household rushed to 'Abdu'l-Baha's room for prayers. The children sat on the floor, their legs folded under them and their arms folded across their breasts in great respect. When asked, they would chant for 'Abdu'l-Baha "O my God! 0 my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose ..." they sang. There was no shouting or unseemly conduct.

Then the family had breakfast. The ladies served the hot, sweet tea in little glasses. On the low table was pure wheat bread and gleaming white goat's milk cheese. "May I please have some more tea?" asked one of the little cousins of Shoghi Effendi. "Thank you;' she replied when served.

What Is the Color of Love?

Some say that love is the color of a rose - a beautiful, deep-pink rose. Shall I tell you why?

There was once a little boy named Tommy. Tommy was not a big, strong, handsome boy. He was very thin. His family was very poor. So Tommy often went to bed hungry because there wasn't enough to eat.

He had rather colorless pale hair and a very pale face. But he did have a lovely smile that showed in his eyes as well as on his lips. Everybody liked Tommy because of that lovely, smiling way of his when he talked and played with his friends.

His teacher liked him, too. She always had a kind word for him. Often she asked him to stay after school for a little treat of some kind in the way of a cookie, or an orange. She hoped it would build him up a bit.

Tommy loved his teacher very much. He wished he could give her something to show his love. But he had no money to buy a gift. What was he to do?

He began thinking very hard. These are the thoughts he had:

"Love makes me feel happy. It makes me want to do something nice, to give something nice to the one I love. Love is a warm feeling about someone.

"Warmth makes me think of a fire on the hearth. Fire is a warm, happy, rosy glow."

And that's how Tommy began to think about a rose for the teacher he loved!

But how and where to get one was something else. At that point he remembered what his mother had once told him. She had said, "God loves all of his creatures. Even the littlest bird is important to Him."

And that's how Tommy remembered to ask God to help him!

The Man Who Did Not Forget

Long ago a very poor man saved the life of his King. The King in thankfulness gave the man a place of great honor in the court. The man was of good character as well as brave, and he pleased the King so much that he was given rooms next to the royal apartment.

The people in the palace were not much different from people today and some of them became very jealous of the good fortune of the man who had saved the King's life. Whenever they had a chance they whispered untrue stories about him to the King.

For a long time no one could change the King's mind about his faithful servant. But one day a report came to him that the man was unfaithful and not to be trusted. He had been seen, late at night when everything was quiet, going to a room in the far corner of the palace. He carried with him a bundle of what was thought to be stolen goods.

"Well, now," said the King, "I'd like to know what he is up to." You see he didn't lose his faith in the man, but he was curious and decided to see for himself.

That night he gathered the jealous courtiers around him and they all quietly followed the man through the halls to the farthest corner of the palace where he disappeared behind a door.

"Open the door!" the King called loudly in the silent night.