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Bahíyyih Khánum
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Pages 11-12
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9: O my dear sister! ...
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O my dear sister! Praise be to God, within the sheltering grace of the Blessed Beauty, here in the lands of the West a
breeze hath blown from over the rose-gardens of
His bestowals, and the hearts of many people have
been drawn as by a magnet to the Abhá Realm.
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Whatever hath come to pass is from the confirmations
of the Beloved; for otherwise, what merit had
we, or what capacity? We are as a helpless babe, but
fed at the breast of heavenly grace. We are no more
than weak plants, but we flourish in the spring rain
of His bestowals.
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Wherefore, as a thank-offering for these bounties,
on a certain day don thy garb to visit the Shrine, the
ka'bih of our heart's desire, turn thyself toward Him
on my behalf, lay down thy head on that sacred
Threshold, and say:
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O divine Providence! O Thou forgiving Lord!
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Sinner though I be, I have no refuge save Thyself.
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All praise be Thine, that in my wanderings over
mountains and plains, my toils and troubles on
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the seas, Thou hast answered still my cries for
help, and confirmed me, and favoured me, and
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honoured me with service at Thy Threshold.
To a feeble ant, Thou hast given Solomon's
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might. Thou hast made of a gnat a lion in the
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thicket of Thy Mercy. Thou hast bestowed on a
drop the swelling waves of the sea, Thou hast
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carried up a mote to the pinnacles of grace.
Whatever was achieved, was made possible
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through Thee. Otherwise, what strength did the
fragile dust possess, what power did this feeble
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being have?
O divine Providence! Do not seize us in our
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sins, but give us refuge. Do not look upon our evil
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ways, but grant forgiveness. Consider not our
just deserts, but open wide Thy door of grace.
Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful! Thou art
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the Seer, the Knower!
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