A New Year's Blessing

This was an e-mail passed on to me by an Elder, it says a Lot - Please take the time to read it.  Much Love and Many Prayers ~wrulf   Osiyo to my loved ones, family and friends:   I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year to come! May Our Creator provide you with all the good thing in life while bringing happiness, love and peace. May he bring forth the new fire of life, with good health and a happy yet guarded spirit. May your tables be filled with plenty of food to share for all of those who come to visit. May your homes be filled with laughter and wonderful memories of years gone past while making new ones in the New Year to come. May your dreams and wishes be fulfilled allowing you prosperity while sharing with those in need. May Our Creator hold you and your family's close to his heart with his mighty hands while bringing a balance into your life while providing for all of your needs.   We say good bye to this old year that has brought us alot of pain, sickness, loss, and sorrows, good times and bad. So many times our Creator has blessed us with so much that we tend to forget to give thanks for all the Many, Many Blessings that he does provide us each and every day.   Many of us has seen the birth of new family member and some of us has seen the sadness in our hearts for those who has crossed over into the Spirit World. For they are truly missed and will be forever in our hearts. Their smiles, love, hugs and mere presents will be missed each and every day. We have had celebrations of lives both new and old. We have celebrated friendships and the love that comes with life. Our homes has been filled with joy as well as sadness. We have traveled far while taking those steps in this circle of life that we all must travel with happiness and sadness. Some of us have climb great mountains of challenges and obstacles while others have enjoyed the view from the top of the mountain. Maybe this New Year we can all be on top of the mountain to enjoy the view together while giving thanks to our Creator for helping us through these obstacles in life.   As we are taking our first steps into this New Year of life. I bring these thoughts. Many times people come to us for guidance or direction wanting to be apart of what we hold so Sacred. (Our Heritage). They see something that most of us have. It is this great and wonderful connection that we have with Our Creator, Mother Earth, and all living things while trying our best to live in balance. People see the love, peace, faith, and belief that we have with Our Creator, The Great Spirit. They see that we walk with him as he guides us down that Red Road of Life, providing for our needs. Who wouldn't want to be apart of that? We should embrace everyone who wants to be like this for our Creator did Create us all equally. If a persons heart is right and they seek balance then we should open our arms and allow them to be apart of this blessing. It was the way of many of our ancestors. One of our goals in life should be to walk the Good Red Road with our family's, friends, and loved ones while Our Creator brings balance into our lives. Isn't that our dream as we travel this Sacred Journey in life? We should all want to teach all of those who are willing to listen and make this a better world for each of us to live in. We should want to help those who are in need and suffering. For one kind word or jester could change that persons life for ever. We are all students of life. A good teacher is always a student forever learning. Forgiveness is a hard thing to do at times but open your heart and forgive those who has made waves in your river.   If we hold one arrow in our hands it will bend and break. If we hold five arrows in our hands they too will bend and break. If we hold fifty arrows in our hands they will not bend or break. There is strength in numbers. We can change the things around us for the best. If we start speaking and teaching to all who will listen and show them the right ways, then it will be like the rivers that flow. It may start out like a small trickle of water but over time the trickle becomes a stream the stream become a creek, the creek becomes a river and the river flows so powerfully changing the land scape forever on its way to the sea. The generations to come will need to be that river for the winds of change is among us each and every day. We too need to become that river. We know that all Tribal Nations adopted people into their tribes, if their hearts were right and they saw the world as we did by placing Our Creator first while protecting Mother Earth and all living things. We are all connected in one way or another. For we believe in the Creator the one true God.   Teach those who will listen with an open heart, and a good heart. Teach those little ones we called our children, grand children, nieces and nephews. For one day they will be our leaders and we the Elders. And when the winds of change has come upon us and they are the leaders then they will know what is true and important to us all.   The Bible tells us raise a child in the way he shall go and when he is older he shall not depart. Are we all not children at one time in our lives? Many of us are still children at heart. We are all learning new life lessons each day, learn to share these lessons with those who are lost and need help. Has someone not taught you to have an open heart and mind, while looking out for the safety of others?   There are so many people who do with out and are suffering in today’s world. Let us change this world by reaching out and helping those in need. Let us teach by example for most of us learn better this way. Be a leader and a giver not a taker. Giving of yourself does not hurt if it is given in the right manner. Remember that one kind word or jester could start a chain reaction or save a persons life. Kindness does make the pain go away even if it is for a short period of time. Be mindful of others and give of yourself. Have compassion for those who are in need and suffering.   May the New Fires of this New Year burn bright with in your heart and family. Being like the Council Fires of our ancestors burning bright for all to see. May the Drums be heard through out the world for all to hear for it is the Heartbeat of Mother Earth and her people. Let us all send up smoke for this New Year so that Great Spirit our one true Creator may hear our prayers and provide for our needs. May we always be mindful and place our Creator first. May this New Year be the best for you and your family. Remember those who have given so that we may receive. Our heritage is not one of just paint and feathers but of the heart. Go in a good way and with a good heart until we speak again may our Creator bless and keep you and your family' while keeping you close to his heart.   Happy New Year Bud Dark Cloud Grimes