Radiance
- What is Radiance?
- How are we Radiant?
- Why should we practice the virtue of Radiance?
- When do we practice the virtue of Radiance?
For the next 4 lessons we will memorize the prayer “O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child…”
“O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child, exalt me by admitting me to the kingdom. I am earthly, make me heavenly; I am of the world below, let me belong to the realm above; gloomy, suffer me to become radiant; material, make me spiritual, and grant that I may manifest Thine infinite bounties.
“Thou art the Powerful, the All-Loving.”
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The light of the love of God never ceases to illumine our hearts. As this light grows brighter and brighter, our hearts become radiant with His love. The light of the knowledge of God—the knowledge of His greatness, of His glory—brightens our eyes. And, through our generous deeds and kind words, the light of love and knowledge shines forth. Those around us are touched by the radiance of our joy. To help us remember the importance of the quality of radiance, let us memorize the following quotation:
O Son of Being! Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it thy radiance and seek none other than Me.
The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh
Meaning Of Words
Radiance
- Sometimes, when we leave a dark room and go outside, we have to cover our eyes until they get used to the bright light. We have to shield our eyes from the radiance of the sun.
- Mrs. Santos loves everyone like her own family. She is always generous, kind and helpful towards others. The love in her heart is felt by all the people she meets, bringing them joy. Everyone is touched by her radiance.
Seek
- When a baby bird hatches, the mother will look for food to feed it. The mother bird will seek food for the new chick.
- The school invited all the students on a special outing. In order to attend, they needed their parents’ permission. All the students were asked to seek approval from their parents to go on the outing.
Send A Postcard
Story About Radiance
Dorothy Baker, about whom you will probably learn more one day, had the honor of meeting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a young girl. It was Dorothy’s grandmother who took her to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His travels in the West. Arriving at a house that she had never visited before, Dorothy entered a crowded room. Many people were talking quietly and reverently while waiting for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to speak. The Master smiled as Dorothy and her grandmother came in and motioned to the young girl to sit near Him. Eager, but with some trepidation, she made her way across the room. Without looking up from the floor, she carefully walked past all the other guests to reach the footstool near His feet.
As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá began to speak, Dorothy sat with her eyes cast down, staring at her black shoes. She did not have the courage to look at Him. But soon her fear was gone. She felt attracted to the warmth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s loving presence. His radiance was magnetic. Without even realizing that she had moved, Dorothy found herself turned in His direction, with her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, gazing up at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s luminous face.
Dorothy could never remember what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke about that day. All she could remember was His kind face, His melodious voice, and the warmth of His presence. His loving eyes seemed to tell her of the spiritual worlds of God. In time, the love of God that had been ignited in her heart grew so strong that she decided to write to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. She begged Him that she might be allowed to serve Him and the Cause of His Father, Bahá’u’lláh. In His answer to Dorothy, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá praised her goal, assured her of God’s bounties, and expressed the hope that she would succeed in her desire. And, indeed, Dorothy dedicated her entire life to serving God and humanity.
Two-Way Copy
Divide the children into pairs, each child facing his or her partner. Now ask one child in each pair to begin making simple physical movements, which the other child should try to mirror. After a few minutes, the partners can switch roles. You can also have them mirror facial expressions rather than movements. Next, have one child in each pair stand behind the other. As the one in the front moves, the one behind should shadow his or her movements.
Make a lantern and use the downloaded quote
HGTV: Jar Lantern
Today’s Parent: Northern Lantern
Kitchen Fun: Fairy Lantern Mason Jar
Craft inspired by the quote
“O Son of Being! Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it thy radiance and seek none other than Me”
This can be a meaningful and reflective activity. Here’s a simple craft idea that you can try:
Materials:
- Clear glass jar or container
- LED tea light or fairy lights
- Craft paper or colored paper
- Markers or pens
- Glue
- Scissors
- Optional: Decorative items like ribbon, beads, or stickers
Instructions:
- Decorate the Jar:
- Take the clear glass jar or container and decorate it with markers or colored paper. You can draw symbols, patterns, or write key words from the quote on the jar.
- Create a Flame:
- Cut out a flame shape from the craft paper. This will represent the “lamp” mentioned in the quote. You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you like.
- Attach the Flame:
- Glue the flame shape onto the top of the LED tea light or fairy lights. If you’re using fairy lights, you can bunch them together and secure the flame on top.
- Place the Light Inside:
- Put the LED tea light or fairy lights with the attached flame inside the decorated jar. Make sure the flame is visible through the glass.
- Optional Decorations:
- If you like, you can further decorate the jar with ribbon, beads, or stickers. Be creative and add elements that resonate with the spiritual and illuminating theme of the quote.
- Reflective Moments:
- Place the jar in a quiet and contemplative space. Turn on the light, and let it serve as a visual representation of the inner light mentioned in the quote. As you spend time with the craft, reflect on the words and their meaning.
This craft is not only a beautiful decoration but also a reminder of the inner light and the connection to a higher source. It can serve as a meaningful and visually inspiring piece for personal reflection.
This illuminated canvas art
Materials:
- Canvas board or stretched canvas
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
- LED string lights (battery-operated)
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Craft knife
- Optional: Gold or metallic paint for accents
Instructions:
- Background Painting:
- Paint the canvas with a background color of your choice. You might want to choose a color that represents light or radiance, such as shades of yellow, gold, or white. Let it dry completely.
- Sketch the Quote:
- Lightly sketch the quote onto the painted canvas using a pencil. You can choose to write the entire quote or focus on key phrases that resonate with you. Consider playing with different fonts or styles for added artistic flair.
- Painting the Letters:
- Paint over the sketched letters with contrasting colors. You can use bold colors or even metallic paint to make the letters stand out. Allow the paint to dry.
- Adding Accents:
- If you like, use gold or metallic paint to add accents around the letters or to highlight specific words. This can enhance the visual appeal of the quote.
- Create Openings for Lights:
- With a craft knife, carefully create small openings or holes along the lines of the letters. These openings will allow the light from the LED string lights to shine through.
- Insert LED String Lights:
- Place the LED string lights behind the canvas, ensuring that the lights align with the openings you created. Secure the battery pack to the back of the canvas.
- Turn on the Lights:
- Turn on the LED string lights and watch as they illuminate the quote on the canvas. Adjust the placement of the lights to achieve the desired effect.
- Optional Frame:
- If you like, you can frame the canvas to give it a polished look. Choose a frame that complements the colors used in your artwork.
This illuminated canvas art serves as a visual representation of the inner light mentioned in the quote, with the LED lights adding a touch of radiance. It can be a unique and artistic way to bring the words to life in a decorative piece for your space.
Radiant Paper Lantern
Materials:
- Colored construction paper (multiple colors)
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Marker or pen
- LED tea light or small flashlight
Instructions:
- Cutting Shapes:
- Cut out strips of colored construction paper. These strips will be used to create the sides of your lantern. You can choose colors that represent light and radiance, such as yellow, gold, or white.
- Creating the Base:
- Take one strip of paper and form it into a circle, securing the ends with glue or tape to create the base of your lantern.
- Building the Lantern:
- Attach additional strips vertically around the base, evenly spacing them. Glue or tape each strip to the base, creating the sides of the lantern.
- Decorating the Lantern:
- Write or draw key phrases from the quote on the strips of paper using a marker or pen. You can also add simple symbols or patterns to represent the idea of light.
- Attaching the Light:
- Place an LED tea light or a small flashlight inside the paper lantern. Make sure it’s securely in place and won’t fall out.
- Turn on the Light:
- Turn on the LED tea light or flashlight to illuminate the lantern. Enjoy the soft glow emanating from the paper, symbolizing the inner light mentioned in the quote.
- Optional Hanging:
- If you’d like, you can attach a string or thread to the top of the lantern and hang it in your space.
This simple paper lantern craft is a tangible representation of the inner light described in the quote. It’s a quick and easy project that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and serves as a visual reminder of the radiant qualities within each individual.