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Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá `Abbás
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Pages 297-299
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"O thou dear maid-servant of God!..."
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1 |
O thou dear maid-servant of God!
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2 |
Thy letter was excellent and its contents were perfect
and complete. Happy is thy condition for that thou
hast not forgotten the time of thy visit
[1]
, nay, at every
instant thou hast grown in this thought and art remembering
the exhortations of Abdul-Baha and wishing in
thy soul to put them thoroughly into practice. Praise
be to God that thou hast kept steadfast with all firmness
under the millstone of tests like unto a grain of
diamond. Be not grieved; tests lead to the development
of holy souls and the ardor of the flame of fire
causeth the pure gold to shine and the violence of winds
is conducive to the growth and thriving of a firm and
well rooted tree.
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3 |
If the earthen house and mortal dwelling-place was
burned
[2]
, yet I hope that thou mayest build thy nest and
abode, like unto the birds of holiness, in the Tree of
Life in the Divine Kingdom.***
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4 |
All the members of the household, especially the
Exalted Leaf
[3]
, send most wonderful Abha greetings.
The maid-servant of God, ........, is present here
longing for you with the utmost joy and happiness.
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5 |
As to the catalogue of the book of which thou has
written, convey (the following) to the author of that
book:
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6 |
"Although thou hast exerted the utmost endeavors
in compiling this book and hast written the life of His
Kingdom Christ and His blessed sayings--and this
service and labor deserve favor--yet these are events
of former times and all that is past is of a different
effect. If thou art a hero of the field and a melodious
bird in the garden of the Merciful One, speak of the
Beauty of Abha, for it is ready and present. consider
that the last year's springtime is past and all that
thou mayest say or hear (about it) is but a story (or
narrative); but appreciate thou this New Year's Spring
--which is this present time--hath pitched its tent with
the utmost magnificence in the field and plain and hath
made the mountain and desert verdant and fresh, hath
made the trees to appear pure and fresh, blooming with
flowers and blossoms through the vernal bounty and
caused them to bring forth pure fruits. Nor all that
thou mayest speak of the past springtime, be it even
spoken with all excellence and eloquence and in accord
with reality, all that will, nevertheless, be a past story.
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7 |
"Do thou not abandon that which is ready in the
present time until thou mayest gain the result and gather
fruits from the garden of thy hopes and wishes.
Otherwise, thy book is a book of history--it will be
concluded and forgotten. Harken unto me (i.e., take
my advice): One single ready drop is better than a
sea which is past. More especially, this New Cause
is like unto a sea, while all those which are past were
like unto rivers."
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Notes
1. [Acca.]
2. [Residence was destroyed by fire.]
3. [Sister of Abdul-Baha.]
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