Wisdom from our Elders

[AngelFeather]

Elders are so awesom in thier wisdom.. the way they tell thier stoires. they never seem to lecture and always seem to get to the point.


Do you have any words of wisdom you have recieved or have read from elders? Share them with us...


A native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said 'I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one.' The grandson asked him, 'Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?' The grandfather answered: 'The one I feed.'

[Smokin' Ace]

I think we take our elders for granted - before ya know it they are gone....nothing like sitting and just talking about nothing with an elder.

Some of my best memories have been with the elders in my life - my Great Grandma - my Grandmothers - my Grandfathers - I have been blessed to have a large family - and I asked loads of questions. My last living grandmother just passed this past November - to me, all her words were wise....

Love your Grands - they are precious commodities....

[AngelFeather]

I agree.. and seems this day and age kids are shy of thier elders... i dunno just seems that way to me... and when wisdom is shared it isnt taken seriously.

I never really got to know my grandparents... and when i got married i really learned alot from my husbands grandmothers.
He lost his last one just last summer. It so different without her. Im just really grateful my children got to know her and her mother before they passed on. I guess now its my job to keep such teaching going... I just hope i can be as eleqouent and strong in my deliverance of that wisdom

[Dancing Feather]

Respect comes with age

My Granma always was a great story teller.
She would always have a facinating tale of her past waiting after dinner.

One Sunday when I was very young- After dinner-- she was telling us about her youth in that captivating way she had when I decided to speek.
" Granma " I said

"dont inturupt! " my father shouted.

Afew seconds past--- " Granma ?"

" Shush and let ya granma finish " My mom said.

After about what seemed like an hour, Granma finished her story.

"Now lil one-- What did you want to say to me ? " She asked.

" Your elbow is in the butter "

: )

[AngelFeather]

hehe DF thats cute

[little wolf]

Ya know... I never had any of that.. How sad, but true. I grew up a ward of the state. Bouncing from one family to another. That I believe has made me strong. I really kinda envy you all that has had the chance and honor to be around elders and listen to their wisdom and story telling. When I think of that I get all sad so I'll go..

[little wolf]

Something weird just happened after I hit the sumit reply tab. My computer just went straight to my desk top and I had to get back online again! Well I have high speed so I'm online all the time but I had to go through clicking the icon getting back to home page blah blah blah... But that was weird it has never happened to me before!

[AngelFeather]

Ya know... I never had any of that.. How sad, but true. I grew up a ward of the state. Bouncing from one family to another. That I believe has made me strong. I really kinda envy you all that has had the chance and honor to be around elders and listen to their wisdom and story telling. When I think of that I get all sad so I'll go..

I went thru very very similar situation growing up. I always had that need to come back home tho. finally when i was old enough to make such a decision for myself, I came bak. I too wish i had such opprotunity to grow up around our elders. But im also greatful that i am able to do that now being a mother and all.

[Joe's Dad]

"When I was a young man, I did alot of crazy things. The elders would talk to me about doing the right things. Didn't listen much in those days. Well, time went on and as I looked around...I was the elder!"

As told to me by Mr. Rossie Freeman.


JD

[Joe G]

Great quote! too true...hey didn't you love my NBA bit?? I should be on TNT!

[AngelFeather]

Nice words JD...

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

[little wolf]

I liked that post^^^^^^ of yours.. Kinda gave me chill bumps..

[thomas34461]

Chance honor our Family

Ya know... I never had any of that.. How sad, but true. I grew up a ward of the state. Bouncing from one family to another. That I believe has made me strong. I really kinda envy you all that has had the chance and honor to be around elders and listen to their wisdom and story telling. When I think of that I get all sad so I'll go..

Little Wolf, your words have touched me in my heart. I can never know the pain that you have experience as a ward of the state. I do believe this has made you strong. I also feel the loss you feel in your heart too. Even though some of us never get to experience the bonds of a physical relationship of a Mother and a Father, we still need to remember that we have a Spiritual Family too. You never lost that Little Wolf. We have a Grandfather in the Great Spirit and a Mother as in Mother Earth. We never lose that and they are always providing for us and looking after us. I also believe that there are a lot here that would call you Sister too. You have many Brothers and Sisters here. If you like you can call me brother. As we are already related, as we are all a part of the Great Spirit. Wado Little Wolf for touching my Heart.

[little wolf]

Wow Thomas you really brought tears to my eyes! You also touched me like no one else on this site has. I appreciate every word you said. Thank you Brother.. from the bottom of my heart!

[AngelFeather]

Such beautiful words from beautiful people. This is what our people are all about. Carryin the yoke... being there for one another. tryin to do good for those that have become lost and bring those that have been taken away from us back home.

Thankyou all for posting such words of wisdom. Keep sharing and reaching out to one another.

LW... I so feel your heart... I was a ward too.. prolly already mentioned it.. So i know the things you speak of... But Thomas is right... we survived and became strong people because of it... we listend to our spirits and returned back to our roots to partake of the wisdom that is so rich in our culture. I travel this life journey in only the hopes to make people smile to help them get up when they have fallen and to become something that My ancestors would be proud of. It isnt a easy road but all those bumps in it.. have just made me appreciate life even more.

Advisary, comes to those who are strong ... we become the targets of evil, but we are are unbreakable because like thomas said we are guided and led by out ancestors and our spirit families. BIG HUGS to LW... fer being a survivor!!! I put that out to all our people, we have survived much and i belive that its because creator has greater plans fer the Native American people of this continent as well as around the world.