Jacqueline Mehrabi Knihy

How can we devote our lives to the service of others? How can we approach every interaction we have with love and humility? How can we place the needs of others above our own? Time and time again we can look to the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In The Sweetness of His Love , author Jacqueline Mehrabi shares thirty-eight simple stories that stretch from the early days of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s childhood to the last years of His life. In each of these brief episodes, we can learn valuable lessons from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example. This volume of stories is enhanced by the beautiful, full-page illustrations of Jaci Ayorinde.

The book explores the lives of six remarkable women, each chosen by God for significant roles in religious history. It highlights Sarah's devotion as Abraham's wife, Asíyih's nurturing of Moses, Mary's motherhood of Jesus, Fátimih's connection to Muhammad, Táhirih's influential belief during the Báb's time, and Bahíyyih Khánum's relationship with Bahá'u'lláh. Through their stories, the text emphasizes themes of faith, sacrifice, and the pivotal contributions of these women to their respective faiths.

Fern is on the verge of turning fifteen, a significant milestone in her life as a young Baha'i. In Fern's Faith, the age of fifteen represents the age of spiritual maturity — a time when she will leave childhood behind and take responsibility for the progress of her own spiritual existence. As she ponders the significance of her upcoming birthday, she engages her friends and family members in a series of deep and meaningful conversations. Much of their time is spent reading and discussing passages from the Long Obligatory Prayer, one of three prayers that every Baha'i over the age of fifteen is required to choose from and recite daily. These discussions cause Fern to think deeply about the mysteries of existence as well as about her own life and future.

Discovering the Sea is the story of Fern, a sixteen-year-old girl home for the summer after completing her first year of boarding school, and intent on exploring the concept of the Covenant of God. Through discussions with friends and family members, Fern learns about the Bahai concept of the Covenant as an agreement between God and mankind in which God promises never to leave us alone without guidance. Fern discusses the religions of the past, and the ways in which disunity seemed to arise among their followers after the passing of the Prophets and Founders of the religions. With the help of her family members and friends, Fern studies the wills of Bahaullah, the Prophet and Founder of the Bahai Faith, and Abdul-Baha, the eldest son and appointed successor of Bahaullah, and comes to appreciate the unique and significant Covenant made between Bahaullah and His followers. Over the course of the summer, Fern also spends time with Callum, a classmate who is staying nearby to work on his uncles fishing boat. The two develop a close and meaningful friendship and together explore the spiritual concepts that Fern is grappling with.

Upon starting boarding school in Scotland's Orkney Islands, fifteen-year-old Fern fears that her Bahai faith, and especially the upcoming fast, will make her an outsider, but soon new friends are not only providing support, they are revealing ways in which each is different, including their own faiths.

Exploring the theme of identity and the human-animal connection, the narrative follows Hom's introspective journey as he grapples with his sense of self and belonging. Through his questioning, readers are invited to reflect on what it means to be human, the nature of consciousness, and the distinctions between humans and animals. This thought-provoking tale delves into existential themes, encouraging a deeper understanding of our place in the natural world and the emotional complexities that come with it.