The Stories from Elders

If You Want to Cry

            It was a cold winter night in 1978 and my two little Taurus daughters were locking horns again. Putting on their pajamas in my bedroom, Yvette (8) and Chante’ (4) argued over whose turn it was to sleep next to me. I smiled knowing this was one argument I knew I could easily ‘chill’.

            “Okay, both of you get to sleep by me, how’s that?” I asked as I turned off the light and crawled into the middle of the bed. I patted the spot on my right and told Yvette to lie there and told Chante’ to get on the other side of me. They happily crawled into bed and cuddled up to me thinking I was the greatest problem solver in the world. I smiled at my smartness knowing I would be toasty warm all night.

            Looking forward to a good night’s sleep, I kissed them both and closed my tired eyes. Then Yvette announced, “Chante’ it’s your turn to pray.” My eyes opened and my heart fluttered at how cute it was for her to remember. Out of respect for this special time, we became silent and waited for Chante’ to begin.  Her words were very clear:

           
            “Take care of other children’s toys. Get along together. Help each other. Grandpa helps people, the good spirit said. If you want to cry or feel lonely, pray. Great Spirit likes to see little children who want to pray.  And the good spirit blessed us saying God bless you. I love you for praying. If you want to go to the Happy Hunting Ground, you should pray.  Not all children have a mama to pray with. All those who have dads should pray with them and all those who have grandmas and grandpas should pray with them. Thank you for praying for the Great Spirit.” Then my baby girl went quietly to sleep.

            I was stunned. My eyes were wide open and so was my mouth. Those were not the usual words of my 4-year-old daughter. They were so profoundly adult. I was savoring every word as Yvette fidgeted around. In the darkness, I could tell she was rubbing the side of her head. She said, “Mama, my ears were plugged the whole time! What did she say?”

          
            I was so in awe of the whole episode that I couldn’t answer her. All I could mutter was, “God bless you.” Satisfied, she said sleepily, “Oh. Okay. God bless you, too, Mama. Good night. I love you.”

            When I was sure they were both sound asleep, I got up and wrote down the words Chante’ had said. They were words to ponder and to be shared some time in the future. 

             I crawled back in bed between my little girls and, filled with absolute joy, I said aloud to them and to the Great Spirit, “I love you, too.”

                                                                                     ~ Yvonne Swan




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