Bahá’í religion fosters gift of family unity

By Deb Riddell
FROM HEART TO HEART for The Register-Guard
November 11, 2006

The recent passing of a dear Bahá’í friend brought cherished childhood memories that helped me deal with this loss, renewing the value of my life and family.

As I sat near his deathbed, my friend asked me to recite his favorite prayer, "The Tablet of Ahmad," revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet-founder of our faith. I was taught to revere this prayer long ago by my parents.

Before my fifth birthday in 1965, my parents enrolled as Bahá’ís. A close-knit family already, our new-found religion fostered even greater bonds of unity.

I remember every night before bed, the family would gather in the living room to pray. Each would offer a prayer, and one of us would recite "The Tablet of Ahmad." This fond memory was rekindled by my dying friend's request.

I chose my own religious path at age fifteen, which Bahá’u’lláh taught is the age of "spiritual maturity." Yes, I enthusiastically chose the Bahá’í Faith after personally investigating its teachings.

Declaring my belief in Bahá’u’lláh gave me a sense of purpose, a means to purity, filling my heart with great happiness. The fact that my beliefs were different from the majority of my friends was not an embarrassment, but a source of pride. I felt blessed, not alienated. I gained a growing sense of unity among all religions and people. My faith helped me to respect human diversity.

My friend's passing also evoked the memory of how I started my own family. I obtained parental consent to be married (a Bahá’í practice), and a few years later I was blessed with two daughters. I used to recite Bahá’í prayers to them while still pregnant and as they grew up. Once they learned to speak, I taught them Bahá’í prayers and teachings. Throughout their childhood and teen years we attended Bahá’í feasts together. They both eventually became members of the Bahá’í Faith, making their mother and grandmother extremely proud.

A few years ago, my oldest daughter was married. She now has two sons of her own. She also has recited Bahá’í prayers to her children since their births. They will make the best decision for their own spiritual journeys after their fifteenth birthday. Whatever their decision, they will be loved and accepted by our family. They are delightful boys with loving hearts and their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother couldn't be more proud of them.

My youngest daughter is planning to be married soon. Our family is sharing great excitement as we support her during this transition.

She has also asked parental permission to marry. This Bahá’í practice is intended to preserve family unity.

My mother, my self, my daughters and my grandsons represent four generations of Bahá’ís. We all live in Eugene, and we have a blessed life. Our interactions are fun and loving. We appreciate our time spent together. Though neither my husband nor my son-in-law is Bahá’í, they are equally wonderful members of the family.

I thank God daily for the gift of my family.

Deb Riddell lives in the Eugene area and serves on the administrative council for the Bahá’ís in central Lane County.