Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Cherokee Indian Youth

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.

He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When  trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen...
Linda...

Anonymous said...

Wonderful story Linda.  I Love it.  I am going to share this with Todd.  Thanks so much for sharing it with us all!
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/

Anonymous said...

What a lovely story Sugar! Jeannette xx  

Anonymous said...

Sorry! I'll do that again!! What a lovely story Linda. Ah, that's better!! Jeannette xx  

Anonymous said...

That was a lovely heart warming story ...love Jan xx

Anonymous said...

Great story, thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

This story truly moved me.  I have many friends who have Indian heritage and I am always intrigued by their stories.  Thank you for sharing, and yes I agree we are never alone, God always walks beside us, and our Spirt Guide is on the other side.

Anonymous said...

((((((((((((HUGSOYOU))))))))))))))))Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

that is a good one!  
gina

Anonymous said...

hope you are having a great day!


~make it a great day!~
         Sharon
http://journals.aol.com/buggieboo1/ImASurvivor/

Anonymous said...

Amen! I love that story! :o)
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Beautiful and worth remembering in our darkest times.
Lisa

Anonymous said...

That is so awesome.....thank you for sharing.....June:)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this Linda.

Krissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink