Faith in Creator gets people through

Page 7

I HAVE SPOKEN

I sometimes hear our older people talking about the "good old days." I cannot help but agree that the days gone by were better. People learned living skills by practical experience. Everyone had to work for a living. When I say work, I mean sweating and working physically. People these days say that they are working. I do not agree with that. As a result of the easy living, we now have life skill programs, parenting programs, and all kinds of other programs that to me, are not necessary. This kind of thing was unheard of when I was growing up. I see all of this as a waste of the taxpayers' money. Living skills should be learned at home. With all of this progress, it is no wonder why problems need programs. They don't know who they are or what they are about. It seems to me that the people these days are placing material things and riches before faith. You will see people that believe in having faith, sharing what little they have. These people know that they will be taken care of by our Creator. I was also lost in this way for some time. It is a good thing that I had good parents. I remember most of the things that I was taught. My parents really believed in teaching us children a way to live.

I can remember riding in the back of our old wagon. My mother would sit beside my father in the front seat. We always had a good team of horses. When our neighbors started driving cars instead of horses, I kind of wondered why my father made no attempt at buying a car. I was ashamed to be riding in an old wagon when our friends were driving in their cars.

It was the same thing in our log house. There was no fancy furniture. We only had what we needed. We certainly did not go hungry; we always had a lot to eat. That

is what I call living. I did not know that my father and mother had the kind of faith that would bring us through anything. That is why my father did not want a car. After all, a team of horses is more dependable than an automobile. My parents did not care what

the neighbors thought about my family. My father had his security and confidence in our Creator. He did not try to make a lot of money. He did not have to. As a result of being honest with people, my father and mother had a lot of respect wherever we went. I did not understand the way my parents were until a few years later.

I believe that not having faith in the Great Spirit is much to blame for all the problems we now have. Fear is a big factor when it comes to living. Fear will keep you from trying to do things that would probably help you. Fear of what other people will say. If a person does not like being like this, then I would suggest that they try to find a God of their understanding. I have found that this was the only way I could deal with the fear that I once had.

I sometimes wonder where my next dollar is going to come from. I never seem to have money. I spend it as fast as I get it. I am also not afraid to give my last dollar to someone in need. I know that some people would say that I must be kind of stupid. I have no problem with this because I know that the Great Spirit will take care of me.

I have spoken.