Once, before the Master's wife went on a journey, she left a second cloak for…
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When in Bahá'í history
Once, before the Master's wife went on a journey, she left a second cloak for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with one of their daughters, for she feared He would give His away and be caught without one in her absence. The daughter was not to tell her Father about the second cloak, but amazingly, the Master soon asked His daughter if He had another cloak, so the truth had to be told. As was to be expected, He replied, 'How could I be happy having two cloaks, knowing that there are those that have none?' He gave the second one away.
Source: Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 75
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: generosity).
Discuss this story
For adults
- Read the closing lines once more. What single phrase stays with you?
- What does the setting of this account contribute to its meaning?
- If you were to share this story aloud at a devotional gathering, which sentence would you read first?
For teens
- If you were in 'Abdu'l-Bahá's place, what might you have done?
- What does this story teach about generosity?
Reflection
- Where in your own life are you being asked to practice generosity?
- Take one line from this story and let it stay with you today.
- What in this account feels timely? What feels timeless?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "Once, before the Master's wife went on a journey, she left a second cloak for…" drawn from?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
Cite this story
Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/generosity
Record yourself reading this story
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