Based on the story of Balasaheb Deo, how does Sai Baba show affection for his devotees and help them with their spiritual practice?

The story of Balasaheb Deo, found in Chapter 41, serves as a powerful example of how Sai Baba is loving toward his devotees and helps them overcome spiritual obstacles. The text states that those with a "true taste for spiritual matters are very dear to Sai," and Baba wards off their difficulties to give them "the company of self-bliss." In Deo's case, he had a sincere desire to read the Dnyaneshwari but was unable to do so. His struggle led him to a state of complete surrender, resolving to wait for Baba's direct intervention. This situation illustrates a key aspect of Sai's method: He sometimes allows a devotee to struggle to the point of surrender, thereby deepening their faith. By making a vow to wait for Sai's order, Deo was demonstrating immense faith, and the narrative implies that this very act of surrender is what would ultimately lead to Sai fulfilling his wish and granting him the "addition of devotion."