Parents - Duties Towards

Beware lest ye commit that which would sadden the hearts of your fathers and mothers. Follow ye the path of Truth which indeed is a straight path.

Should anyone give you a choice between the opportunity to render a service to Me and a service to them, choose ye to serve them, and let such service be a path leading you to Me. This is My exhortation and command unto thee.

Show honour to your parents and pay homage to them. This will cause blessings to descend upon you from the clouds of the bounty of your Lord, the Exalted, the Great.

We have caused to return to thy home as a token of Our Mercy unto thy mother, inasmuch as We found her overwhelmed with sorrow. We have enjoined you in the Book 'to worship no one but God and to show kindness to your parents'. Thus hath the one true God spoken and the decree hath been fulfilled by the Almighty, the All-Wise. Therefore We have caused thee to return unto her and unto thy sister, that your mother's eyes may thereby be cheered, and she may be of the thankful.

When We learned of her sadness, We directed thee to return unto her, as a token of mercy unto thee from Our presence, and as an admonishment for others.

It is seemly that the servant should, after each prayer, supplicate God to bestow mercy and forgiveness upon his parents. Thereupon God's call will be raised: 'Thousand upon thousand of what thou hast asked for thy parents shall be thy recompense!' Blessed is he who remembereth his parents when communing with God. There is, verily, no God but Him, the Mighty, the well-Beloved.

In regard to the question you asked him: he feels sure that, although in some ways you may be a financial burden to your children, it is to them a privilege to look after you; you are their mother and have given them life, and through the bounty of Bahá’u’lláh they are now attracted to His Faith. Anything they do for you is small recompense for all you have done for them.

The Universal House of Justice has received your email letters of 12 August 2013 and

regretted to learn of the difficulties you have been encountering in your relationship with your parents. It extends to you its sympathy for the suffering you have experienced and commends you for continuing to do your best to show your parents love and for striving to maintain a close relationship with them. Owing to its distance from the situation, it is not possible for the House of Justice to offer you specific advice. However, Bahá’u’lláh has given us the principle of consultation as a means of obtaining guidance. “It is,” He wrote, “a shining light which, in a dark world, leadeth the way and guideth.” Therefore, it is suggested that you consult with family members and friends whose judgement you trust, as well as seek the advice of a psychologist, which it is understood you have

done in the past. You are encouraged to remain confident that, through consultation, prayer and reliance on God, a way of improving the nature of your relationship with your parents will be found and a clearer understanding of the kind of relationship you should have with them will become apparent. In addition, you are encouraged not to allow the difficulties in this relationship to disrupt your relations with others or your bond with your Lord and service to His Cause. In such service you will find true value, untouched by worldly troubles.