God Never Forgets You
Juliet Thompson, The Diary of Juliet Thompson, (1947), Kalimát Press · Read original
When in Bahá'í history
A retelling based on The Diary of Juliet Thompson (Kalimát Press; diary entry for 13 April 1912). The narrative is retold in our own words; the lines in quotation marks are verbatim from the Diary. Read the full text for Juliet's own account.
When Juliet Thompson first went to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá in New York in April 1912, He asked her only one question: "How is your mother?" Juliet told Him that her mother was grieving. Juliet's brother was soon to marry a young woman who did not want to make friends with his family.
"Bring your mother to Me," He said. "I will comfort her."
He sent for her that same night, Saturday, 13 April. Juliet was afraid her mother would refuse, because she had been strongly opposed to Juliet's work for the Faith. Instead, when the message came, Mrs Thompson got up at once to get ready.
They found the Master exhausted, lying on His bed. He had seen hundreds of people that day. Mrs Thompson, whom Juliet describes as shy and undemonstrative, went straight to the bedside and knelt. "Welcome, welcome!" said the Master. "You are very welcome, Mrs Thompson."
He told her to be thankful for her daughter, a daughter of the Kingdom who would draw her soul nearer to God. He spoke of Mary Magdalene, who had been scorned by the people and whose name now moved the whole earth. Juliet, He said, would become dearer and dearer to her mother, and her son would be good in the end. Then He said:
Trust in God. God is kind. God is faithful. God never forgets you. If others are unkind what difference does it make when God is kind? When God is on your side it does not matter what men do to you.
Still on her knees, Mrs Thompson kissed His hand and asked that the Master be told, "I have always loved Him." "I have no need of a witness," He answered. "My heart knows."
The next day she said to Juliet: "All my bitterness has gone. The Master must be helping me."
This account is retold for the Bahá'í Story Library; it is a paraphrase, not the original text. The quoted words are verbatim from The Diary of Juliet Thompson. See the source for Juliet's complete entry.
Cite this story
Thompson, J.. (1947). *The Diary of Juliet Thompson*. Kalimát Press. https://bahai-library.com/thompson_diary
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