A Mother’s Grief, A Child’s Wisdom

By James B. Beard aka Noodin

 


Awhile back I received a call from a woman in Southern New Hampshire. She wanted to know if I would do a memorial service for her son. 

She explained to me that her son had been killed in a drug related shoot out about a year before and that she was seeking closure. Her son was part Micmac, and she wanted a ceremony done in a more traditional indigenous way. I referred her to an Elder, but the Elder declined for health reasons. The Elder then suggested that I do the ceremony for her son.

I told her I would do it but would need to meet her and her family before any ceremony to make sure we were on the same page. She invited me to come to her home for dinner and to talk, as well as meet the family.

The day I arrived at her home I was greeted at the door by her and her seven-year-old daughter. Before I stepped in the door her daughter looked up and said, "you are the one who is going to do ceremony for my brother.". I answered that I was and she asked' "what is ceremony?". 

I looked at her and asked, "Do you brush your teeth?" She answered, "Well, yes I brush my teeth!". I asked, "Do you brush your teeth every day?". She answered, "Yes, I brush my teeth every day.". I asked, "Do you hold your toothbrush in your right hand or your left hand?". She answered, "I am right-handed, so I hold my toothbrush in my right hand.". I said, "So you probably start brushing on the left side of your mouth and work to the right side, right?". She answered, "I guess so.". I asked, "What would happen if you didn't brush your teeth every day?". She answered, "My teeth would rot.". I told her, "That is ceremony! if you don't do it every day, your teeth will rot.".

We do ceremony to stay aware of our sense of being, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. The repetition or event of ceremony keeps us in touch with values we ascribe to and helps us to maintain a healthy life. 

The Spirit world is happy to see us doing it, but we really do it to continue our own awareness and resolve.

Do you brush your teeth every day?

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By James B. Beard, Author of the book -

Walking Spirit in a Native Way





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