I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.

For me they are the role model for being alive.

~ Gilda Radner

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Stumpy's got attitude


An attitude of gratitude
Stumpy and I are visiting elders and delivering turkey dinners to shut-ins in our community, today.
As is usual, on a holiday, I am unable to get a line out of dirtville to call my family to tell them how much I love them and how grateful I am to be a part of such a wonderful and giving family. To my Son, my Mom and Dad, my four sisters, my brother (and their spouses), my legion of nephews and two nieces, my aunt, and my cousins,
"Ig'wien."
I am grateful

A prayer for the people

"All My Relations" written and sung by Ulali
Pura F (Tuscarora), Soni (Mayan, Apache, Yaqui), and Jennifer (Tuscarora.)




To our elders
who teach us of our creation
and of our past
so that we may preserve Mother Earth
for ancestors yet to come.

We are the land.

This is dedicated to our relatives before us,
thousands of years ago
And to the 150 million who were exterminated
across the Western Hemisphere
in the first four hundred year's time, starting in 1492

To those who have kept their homelands
And to the nations extinct due to mass slaughter,
slavery, deportation and disease unknown to them
And to the ones who are subjected to the same treatment today

To the ones who survived the relocations
And those who died along the way

To those who carried on traditions
and live strong among their people
To those who left their communities by force or by choice
and through generations no longer know who they are

To those who search and never find
To those who turn away the so-called "non-accepted"
To those who bring us together
And to those living outside, keeping touch, the voice for many

To those that make it back to live and fight the struggles of their people
To those that give up
And those who do not care

To those who abuse themselves and others
And those who revive again

To those who are physically, mentally, or spiritually incapable, by accident or by birth

To those who seek strength in our spirituality and way of life
And those who exploit it
– even our own

To those who fall for the lies and join the dividing lines that keep us fighting amongst each other

To the outsiders who step in
– good or bad
And those of us who don't know better

To the leaders and prisoners of war, politics, crime, race and religion
– innocent or guilty

To the young
The old
The living
And the dead

To our brothers and sisters in all living things across Mother Earth
and her beauty we've destroyed
and denied the honour that the Creator has given each individual:
The truth that lies in our hearts
All my relations

12 comments:

Kristine said...

What a wonderful way to spend the holiday. Thank you for thinking of those in need. This is gratitude done right.

And thank you for sharing this song. You've given me a lot to think about.

Carey Brown Strombotne said...

Stumpy, it's Thanksgiving, you're not supposed to have attitude, you're supposed to have GRATITUDE!! What a wonderful way to spend the holiday! All my best to you both!

xo

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

A very beautiful post. We applaud you for what you are doing - you are so very kind and generous.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Anonymous said...

Happy Holidays to you and yours. From our home to yours. Tammy

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Thanks for doing what you do

AND

For being YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra and Phyll

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Happy Turkey Day...

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Dog Foster Mom said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. :-) I believe Stumpy is the cutest "chihuahua" I've ever seen. :-)

Anonymous said...

Great post! Happy Thanksgiving! What a great way to spend the day, with Stumpy, delivering meals to the shut ins. I know they really appreciate it.

Elyse and Riley

Anonymous said...

What a most beautiful postie. Thank you for delivering foodables to those peoples who need it. You sure do have a ginormous heart. And I'm grateful that you and Stumpy are my furends!

Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie

K9 Katastrophie said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Stumpy!

♥ Sallie said...

You are awesome!

Happy Turkey Day!

Hugs,

Brenda's Arizona said...

Lovely, lovely post. I'm saving this one...