August 13 Daily Feast Of Wisdom (Tsugitsvnvda Danalisdayvhvsgv Agadohvsdi ) (ᏧᎩᏨᏅᏓ ᏓᎾᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎬ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ)

2015

August
Galoni
ᎦᎶᏂ

Thursday
Ugineiga
ᎤᎩᏁᎢᎦ

August 13 - Daily Feast

Grief is one of the most tenacious and persistent emotions of all our feelings. Putting it aside is a temporary act at most, because it waits and moves at subtle times and when we least expect it. This deceptive pain can spring from times and times ago - things that have been dealt with and put to rest. But grief is a spirit and loves to spring up as guilt and subtle questioning about what if we had done differently. We have a right to happiness, without grief. The fact that we can scold it and have it leave should show us we can be free, even though it takes a time or two to overturn its invitation to hurt.

~ Almighty God made me an Indian, but not an agency Indian. ~

GERONIMO - APACHE, CIRCA 1876

'A Cherokee Feast of Days, Volume II' by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Elder's Meditation of the Day - August 13

"A bit of sunshine, a drop of rain, a puff of life from the Great Spirit as He gently breathed upon that spot, created the Native Americans. They were well formed and agile, copper colored and proud."

Harriet Starleaf Gumbs, SHINNECOCK

We are made in the image of the Great Spirit. A long time ago He breathed life into our ancestors. He made the Indian strong. He created a Warrior. Our ancestors created more warriors. We have been tested throughout the seasons and we are still here, stronger than ever. It is good to be Indian. We are proud of ourselves and our ancestors. Mostly we are proud the Great Spirit has never forsaken us, and continues to guide us.

My Creator, let me live my life today in a way that would make my ancestors proud. Let me remember each month that I am here to serve You. Today let me conduct my life in a way that also would make You proud.

"THINK on THESE THINGS"
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Realizing there are a multitude of wonderful things to appreciate, we must shake them all together in our minds and wait for the chosen ones to rise to the top like bubbles. Life is such a challenge, such a joy to live when it is appreciated. If we could only realize who gave us life, we would understand even more why the Creator intended us to appreciate and love all that is about us.

The things we can appreciate are never in any particular order, but mingled together as they are in our lives. We can so beautifully and joyfully appreciate the sound of our children's laughter when sudden happiness overtakes them; the tremendous and moving power of silent prayer; a strong voice singing a song of inspiration, or of sentiment; early morning sunrises, misty pink and fresh; a mockingbird singing out its heart in the depth of night; the touch of souls in understanding; violin music; and our children in prayer; in spells of delight, or in any other moment.

To name them all would be an impossibility, to live them all is a blessing. We must not pass these things by without appreciating them. We must not lose them by failing to give thanks. These are the things we always have near us, and we can appreciate them merely by attuning our senses to them.