He was very sorry to hear that you are contemplating
separation from your husband. As you no doubt know, Bahá'u'lláh considers the
marriage bond very sacred; and only under very exceptional and unbearable
circumstances is divorce advisable for Bahá'ís.
The Guardian does not tell you that you must not divorce
your husband; but he does urge you to consider prayerfully, not only because
you are a believer and anxious to obey the laws of God, but also for the sake
of the happiness of your children, whether it is not possible for you to rise
above the limitations you have felt in your marriage hitherto, and make a go of
it together.
We often feel that our happiness lies in a certain
direction; and yet, if we have to pay too heavy a price for it in the end we
may discover that we have not really purchased either freedom or happiness, but
just some new situation of frustration and disillusion.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter written
on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 5 April 1951 to an individual believer; The
Compilation of Compilations vol. I, Divorce)
