Forgive Him Now
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When in Bahá'í history
‘Abdu’l-Bahá was born on the same night that the Báb declared His Mission in Shíráz on 22 May 1844, so on that day in 1906 it was about the Báb, His work and message, that He spoke. For the occasion over two hundred guests were to dine at the Master's table. Since dawn He had been busy helping with the work involved, Himself kneading dough to be put in the ovens, “in gay spirits, inspiring, uplifting, cheering all His helpers”. Later He “assisted in passing the platters … the rice … the lamb … the fruits of the region (of such large size, such colour, and such fragrance as only the sunshine of the East produces and paints). Moving among His two hundred guests, He spoke to them as He served them, such Divine words of love and spiritual import …. ‘If one of you has been wounded in heart by the words or deeds of another, during the past year, forgive him now; that in purity of heart and loving pardon, you may feast in happiness, and arise, renewed in spirit.’”
Source: Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Annamarie Honnold), pp. 49–50, quoting Marzieh Gail, The Sheltering Branch, pp. 70–71.
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: hospitality).
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