The Workman's Gift of Bread
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When in Bahá'í history
The following touching incident took place one day when we were seated at table with the Master. A Persian friend arrived who had passed through ‘Ishqábád. He presented a cotton handkerchief to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who untied it, and saw therein a piece of dry black bread, and a shrivelled apple. The friend exclaimed: "A poor Bahá’í workman came to me: `I hear thou goest into the presence of our Beloved. Nothing have I to send, but this my dinner. I pray thee offer it to Him with my loving devotion.'" ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spread the poor handkerchief before Him, leaving His own luncheon untasted. He ate of the workman's dinner, broke pieces off the bread, and handed them to the assembled guests, saying: "Eat with me of this gift of humble love."
Source: Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway; also in Honnold, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 97.
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: hospitality).
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