Tammy and the Butterfly

Drip, drip, drip splashed little drops of rain as they landed on Tammy's nose and made dark splotches on her long grey dress.

Tammy had been walking in the woods. She was very excited because she had found something strange. "I must hurry home," said Tammy," and ask mother what this is."

She gazed at the object in her hand, then flitted through the woods, skirt held high to prevent branches from grabbing at it as she passed.

"Mommy! Mommy!" cried Tammy as she neared the house. "Look what I found!"

"Let's see, dear, and do come in out of the rain," said Mother. "Oh, it's a cocoon. Put it beside your bed and watch it for a few days. It has a beautiful surprise inside. It is more than an ugly shell."

"A surprise?" wondered Tammy, as she ran to her room. "O, I can hardly wait to see what it is!"

Tammy sat in her room watching the cocoon. Rain drops slithered down the window and folded into tiny puddles on the sill. "I wish you weren't so ugly," she said to the cocoon. "Maybe I could make you prettier with some paint."

"Mommy, she called. Do we have any paint?"

“What for, dear?" her mother asked.

"To paint the cocoon so it will be pretty."

Mother smiled to herself. "Come down to eat supper now, Tammy. The paint might hurt the surprise. Be patient. The shell won't always be there."

Tammy couldn't understand how so ugly a shell could contain something beautiful. As she came downstairs she asked, "Do I get a story tonight?"

Mother answered, "Yes, I'll tell you the story of Cinderella. She is very much like your cocoon."

The miracle of the Báb’s last day…

The Báb saw the sun rise over the sands of His native Persia for the last time. He was engaged in a confidential conversation with one of His followers, who served as His secretary when He was interrupted by a government official. The Chief Attendant for the Prime Minister's brother had come to lead the Báb to the presence of the leading Doctors of law in Tabriz to obtain from them the authorization for His execution.

The Báb rebuked the Attendant for his interruption and held fast to His secretary’s hand.

“Not until I have said to him all those things that I wish to say," the Báb warned the Attendant, "can any earthly power silence Me. Though all the world be armed against Me, yet shall they be powerless to deter Me from fulfilling, to the last word my intension."

The Attendant was amazed at such boldness and effrontery in a mere prisoner. He insisted that the Báb accompany him. The barracks doors were opened and the Báb was brought into the courtyard, His conversation left unfinished.

To the people of Tabriz, the Báb was no longer triumphant. The campaign of united opposition by church and state was having its effect. The Báb was now a humbled prisoner. The crowd filled the streets and people climbed on each other's shoulders the better to see this man who was still so much talked about.

Just as Jesus had entered Jerusalem hailed on all sides and with palms strewn in His path only to be mocked and reviled in that same Jerusalem within the week, in like manner the glory that had attended the Báb's first visit to Tabriz was forgotten now. This time the crowd, restless and excitable, flung insulting words at the Báb. They pursued Him as He was led through the streets. They broke through the guards and struck Him in the face. When seme missile hurled from the crowd would reach its mark the guards and the crowd would burst into laughter.

One of Baha’u’llah’s granddaughters remembers His loving nature…

Even though Baha'u'llah and His Family lived as prisoners, He tried in every way to make them happy.

When Tuba Khanum was a child, she and her sisters had a difficult time. The only time they had with their loving and wonderful Father, Abdul-Baha, was at tea early in the morning. He was always so busy taking care of the hundreds of people who came to Him for help. But at tea He would chant prayers and tell them wonderful stories of the Lord Christ and His Mother, of Muhammad, of Moses and the other Prophets. They loved Him very much.

Later when they attended school from seven in the morning until five in the afternoon, they had a little reading and writing but no play time and only a little to eat at noon. Mostly they listened to someone reading but who never explained anything.

When the children needed someone to listen to their troubles and difficulties they always went to their grandfather, Baha'u'llah. He took an interest in everything about them. Tuba says in her letters; "We children looked upon Baha'u'llah as another loving Father. . . He used to send to Beirut every year to buy stuff for our clothes. Baha'u'llah would then call for us to choose which we liked best for our frocks. . . He was always punctual, and loved daintiness and order. . . and liked to see everybody well-groomed and as neatly dressed as possible." You can imagine that this was not easy, as prisoners cannot go wherever and whenever they wish.

A lesson in forgiveness…

One evening 'Abdu'l-Baha was talking to a group of the friends who had gathered around Him, warmed and comforted by His love.

Suddenly a stranger came into the room, and, without a word, threw himself down at 'Abdu'l-Baha's feet. 'Abdu'l-Baha knew who he was, though. He introduced the man to the others as "one of My old friends," and embraced him.

Now, where do you suppose He had met the man? Wouldn't you think that this person must have been very good to 'Abdu'l-Baha to be greeted so warmly? Well, here is the story behind the story:

Years before this night, when 'Abdu'l-Baha was a prisoner along with many others--some of them children—this man was one of the soldiers who guarded the prison gate.

Now, in order to get water the prisoners had to walk two miles to a well. There they filled their jugs and carried them back to the prison. This soldier waited until the prisoners came back into the prison yard with their heavy jugs. Then he struck at the jugs with his gun and broke them!

(Adapted from a story told by Mr. Faizi, Hand of the Cause; Child’s Way magazine, March-April. 1972)