O thou handmaid of God! In this day, to thank God for His
bounties consisteth in possessing a radiant heart, and a soul open to the
promptings of the spirit. This is the essence of thanksgiving.
As for offering thanks by speaking out or writing, although
this is indeed acceptable, yet when compared with that other thanksgiving, it
is only a semblance and unreal; for the essential thing is these intimations of
the spirit, these emanations from the deep recess of the heart. It is my hope
that thou wilt be favoured therewith. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the
Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
