My Nana sent me this story via email today. I enjoyed reading it and thought I would share. My Nana is in her 80's and more computer literate than most of us. She always sends me uplifting, God is love, type emails. She has always been a spiritual example in my life even though she does not share my faith. It's kind of funny because her name is Emma Smith and she lives in SLC, Utah, but no, she isn't Mormon! My Nana is a beautiful lady. I wish I had a pic. of her to share. She always looks so nice and put together with her blouses and clean, crisply ironed slacks, matching jewelry, etc. She not only takes good care of herself but of her home and things too. When we go to visit she makes such an effort to make sure your stay is exceptional. She gets out the fancy dishes, sets the table so nice, and cooks the most delicious meals. I love my Nana and am grateful for the things she has taught me.
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 aMAN. 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.
