My friend, Bob, is writing what I tell him to write. I am too old to learn to make the marks of words my heart wishes to speak. I have had many names as is the custom of my people; Bob has chosen to call me Grandfather. Come sit with me. We will make talk, we will make smoke. There is much to learn.
The Great Spirit wishes me to speak words to you about celebration, about peace and about love. These are good things I think. My people have many celebrations to celebrate and to give thanks to the Great Spirit, he who we call Wakan Tanka. Like myself, he has had many names; Bob has told me your people call him God. That is a good name, I think.
Bob has told me that this is the time of year his people celebrate the birth of God’s son. I think this is a good thing, I wish God’s son a Happy Birthday. Bob said to me, “Grandfather… this is the time my people pray for peace and good will toward other men.” These are good things I think, so I wish for you to have both.
He said this is the time of year his people pray also for love. I know this is a good thing; love is always a good thing… even when it hurts the heart. I have lived a long, long time and I have loved much and suffered much, but love is always a good thing. Peace has not always followed my people, but love has.
I knew a young brave that one day found a baby hawk bird and picked it up and kept it warm next to his chest. The brave loved that bird with all of his heart and the bird loved the boy.
One day the bird took flight. It is what a bird does, it is what a bird must do so it was a good thing, but the young brave felt bad because the bird was gone. But one day, the bird returned.
It did not stay for long time; birds do not know how to measure time like a man does. The bird stayed until its heart said it was time to leave and the young brave felt bad again. But… But the bird, over all of these years did return… again and again to visit the boy… and stay a while.
For the bird, it was exactly how things should be, birds and animals never try to possess. They have no pockets to keep things in and since they are free to go and come… have no desire to capture others. For the boy, with time, it became a good thing… not a perfect thing, but a good thing. Perfect is in the eye of Wakan Tanka so maybe it is after all, a perfect thing.
I have been on many hunts and had many celebrations; these are good things. Celebrate the birth of The Child, it is a good thing. Seek peace always, it is a good thing. Whether you receive love or not, always give love. It is the best of things, the birth of The Child proclaimed it, it brings peace and love—the magic that is the fingerprint of the Great Spirit.
Your people and my people have not always been friends, but you and I always shall be. Love, this is a good thing… I know.
~Grandfather
