THE GIFT
It was evening and the camp was getting settled down from the days activities, as the old story teller
carried his buffalo robe out of his lodge and placed it on the ground.
After a few adjustments to his liking, he seated himself comfortably before the fire and gazed into the fire.
Tell us a story, came the request from one of the children. Yes, chimed in still others.
The expression on his face never changed as he continued looking into the fire.
Then slowly he raised his eyes and looked around. All the children were waiting to see if he would honor their request.
You could have heard a leaf fall as the old man repositioned himself. Getting more comfortable he began.
There came a day after the Great One had made the animals and their mates as well as the man and his mate.
That the Great One called all the animals as well as the man to come to receive each one a special gift.
Placing a great basket before them. Each one was to pass by and tell the Great One what it was that
each one wanted and that would be that ones gift.
It was winter and every one was very cold.
So the deer came to the Great One and asked for great speed as well as a warm coat. The Great One
reached into the basket and gave the deer a beautiful warm coat as well as great speed.
The bears came next. Asking for great power and a warm coat. The Great One reached into the basket
and gave the bears great power and a beautiful warm coat.
The eagles came next asking for swift wings that they may fly fast and high, as well as a warm coat.
The Great One reached into the basket and gave the eagles fast wings and a beautiful feathered coat.
The buffalo came by and asked for great power and a warm coat. The Great One reached into the basket and gave the buffalo great strength and a beautiful warm coat.
And so it went all day as each one would ask for its gift the Great One would reach into the basket and give each one its gift.
The man came last to receive his gift. The man asked the Great One for great swiftness and a warm coat. The Great One looked into the basket but all that was left was a few sticks of wood. But I shall give you some of my wisdom as well.
The man did not want to seem unappreciative so he thanked the Great One, took the small sticks of wood and walked away very downhearted.
He thought, all of the other animals got what they wanted but all I got was a few sticks.
Then he began to think why would the Great One have a few sticks of wood? It must have some value....but what? Is the Great One trying to teach me something?...What am I to do with this?
There is wood everywhere in the forest. We can use it for our fire. We use it for our tepees, we use it for our bows and arrows
At that the old man paused and looked at his audience....... What would you do with such a gift?
the old man asked. No one volunteered an answer, for it seemed as if there was wood everywhere, there was no answer.
There was a large stack of wood beside them for feeding the fire to keep them warm. The old man selected a large piece of wood and placed it into the fire. As the flames grew brighter he placed a deer hide, which held something undisclosed, before him. Slowly unwrapping it, it was a nearly completed bow.
Selecting a sharp stone from a bag at his side, he began scraping away more wood from just the right places.
After what seemed an eternity to the children…
He began to speak. You were thinking about what you can see. The small sticks of wood.
The real gift was wisdom. You can not hold wisdom in your hand. The human had everything he needed. The small sticks made him think about all the things he had. He had his answer. It was wisdom, that was the real gift.
author Larry Waldron