March 23 - Daily Feast

March 23 - Daily Feast Long earrings made of turquoise and silver swung from her rather large earlobes. More silver and turquoise lay on her bosom and on her wrists and long brown fingers. She was lacing leather in soft moccasins as she watched a much older man having difficulty walking on rough ground. "Be careful," she said, "what you watch others doing. If you see yourself at his age and having problems, then change your view. You haven't had his hardships, you probably won't even live to be as old as he is, and now is when you should correct what is wrong." Aunts, mothers, and grandmothers teach. Can we hear? ~ Our relations with the neighboring tribes are of the most friendly character. Let us see that the white path which leads from our country to theirs be obstructed by no act of ours. ~ JOHN ROSS - CHEROKEE CHIEF "A Cherokee Feast of Days, Volume II" by Joyce Sequichie Hifler *<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>* Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 23 "We must relearn how to cry. A strong man cries; it is the weak man who holds back his tears." --Archie Fire Lame Deer, LAKOTA Indian men and other men should really meditate on this Elder's saying. So many men have been taught it is unmanly to cry, to show emotions or to feel. When people cry, the Elders say there are two types of tears – one type will taste salty; the other type will taste sweet. One is caused by pain, and the other is caused by the release from the pain, or joy tears. A strong man knows himself and knows his relationship with the Great Spirit. The release of tears is a spiritual act. Our bodies are designed to cry. We should honor our bodies and use them as the Creator intended. Great Spirit, Grandfather, today, teach me to cry. *<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>* THINK on THESE THINGS By Joyce Sequichie Hifler As long as there has been a human race there has been someone crying out, "No one understands!" Somewhere along the way communications have broken down and the result is misunderstanding. To be misunderstood is painful. We keep wanting to explain and explain until we get our message across. Sometimes it is the lack of the wise use of words. Then, it may be an unwilling ear. But whatever the race, the politics, sophisticated or home grown, everyone has the desire to be understood. They want every motive, every mood, completely and unquestionably understood. But to be completely understood can also have its rebound. A goddess can turn into a woman and a hero can slip into a man when only one of their moods is completely understood. Understanding breeds familiarity. Familiarity may not breed contempt, but it can certainly take the edge off the mystery. And it is mystery that keeps life interesting. In all wisdom, we should worry much less about being completely understood, and make a more diligent effort to understand others. Something dies within us when no one cares. It is a circumstance of our own making when we have failed to give another the thought and concern that would have helped when it was most needed. Sorrows can be borne because others care. Greatness can be achieved because someone cared. To care is our purpose. Who knows but that these small acts of sympathy and understanding may place another life into the one slot on the jigsaw puzzle of life. If we were all the things we expect of others, the result would be perfection. We would be perfect in forgiveness, faithful in love, and devoted to the welfare of others. Such excellence has never been accomplished, except that we work continually for it. To work for it, we have to care. And for someone to care is the thing that matters. "Instead of allowing yourself to be so unhappy, just let your love grow as God wants it to grow; seek goodness in others, love more persons more; love them more impersonally, more unselfishly, without thought of return. The return, never fear, will take care of itself." - Henry Drummond. *<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>* Available online! 'Cherokee Feast of Days' By Joyce Sequichie Hifler. Visit her web site to purchase the wonderful books by Joyce as gifts for yourself or for loved ones......and also for those who don't have access to the Internet: http://www.hifler.com Click Here to Buy her books at Amazon.com Elder's Meditation of the Day By White Bison, Inc., an American Indian-owned nonprofit organization. Order their many products from their web site: http://www.whitebison.org   *<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>* If you would like to Subscribe\Unsubscribe, or change your subscribed email address for The Daily Feast email list, visit here: http://dailyfeast.info and fill out the form!