Extract from a Tablet of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá

The meaning is this: Although those ill-mannered ones offered thee insults and taunts, cursed and reviled thee, and at last dismissed thee with the greatest disrespect and banished thee from thy town, it doth not matter. It behoveth thee to offer thanksgiving and praise for having attained to so great a bestowal, so manifest a bounty. O servant of Bahá! The Ancient Beauty, may my life be sacrificed for His loved ones, was repeatedly exiled from one land to another and banished from one country to the next. Thou didst follow in the footsteps of the Blessed Beauty and didst drink a cup from the ocean of His tribulations. May it redound to your health! God willing, thou wilt drink again from this brimming, life-giving chalice of joy and wilt partake of this delectable sweetmeat. Delight therein!

—‘Abdu’l‑Bahá