Sheila Williams ~ Singing Cloud

THE LONG WALK!

Sheila Williams: The Long Walk In the long and long ago, a young mother lost her child to illness and she cried for many days, so sure he would be afraid in the darkness without his mother to hold him close. Mother Earth felt her tears and the pain in her heart, and felt so sad for the young mother. Father Sky could hear her cries all through the night, and the Four Winds blew softly carrying her mourning prayers to Creator.

It was given to an Elder to hear Creators words of comfort to take to the young mother, do not cry for the child gone but understand his ancestors have come to walk beside him, he will not be afraid, or alone he is in his grandmothers arms, and she will carry him on the long walk from this world into the next. The Elder was himself surprised at these words; this was before the People knew the long walk was like a gathering of family full of happy laughter and love.

And so it was explained the long walk helps to give the spirit time to get used to being free, of there being no more pain or sadness, these things are not known in the spirit world, but rather light and happiness. The trail is long and so your ancestors meet you as you cross to lead you into the happy place of goodness, do not fear he will not be alone or get lost along the way for his kin watch and guide him.

Death is a sad time only for those left behind, and so from that day to this we know to those who have crossed we say our sad goodbyes, and they go and we are then happy for them, they no longer need the hard lessons of this life. Be sad only that we must wait awhile before we too can join them. Sing then and rejoice let them go with love, they are in the better place, look up at night to see their campfires, and know they watch over you with love, and when your time comes their smiling faces will be there to greet you for your own long walk home!

As told to me by my grandmother, and she by hers!