Prayer: 

Kindness and love of God are acknowledged through adoration and praise. To love unconditionally and to say so is prayer. Prayer should be done with admiration. The reasons for praise are numerous. What we are is a gift the creator gave us. The tendency to believe that everything is normal can often stop one from prayer. Thankfulness for these gifts from God will incite me to pray. Because everything is an act of goodness from the great spirit, my life, health, family, friends, and my material things. It is to God we pray if we want certain things.  

We ask in the same degree with which we love. All requests to the Great Spirit should always be followed by, ‘if this is Your Will; that Your Will be done’; because we even if we believe that it is what we need, it’s really what we want. The mistake would be not to ask. God wants us to ask for what we want the same as a child would ask a parent. Another mistake would be to think God has better things to do than take interest in you. Prayer should not be used as a last resort when everything humanly possible has failed. God should be the first step. The same as a spouse would talk to their partner when something bothers them. To ask for forgiveness is to recognise our faults.  

We ask God’s forgiveness like we would a friend or spouse. To ask forgiveness and receive it, is a part of the love of God and brings about the growth of love. Prayer is a dialogue, a personal and private conversation not simply reciting prayers already established. God or the Great Spirit is a divine entity and not a power, a distant being or a super robot. God is someone close to you and not hidden behind the clouds. He is a friend and not a great magician. I therefore pray to know and love the Creator because to love someone, you need to believe in Him and speak to Him. 

THE NATIVE WAY OF PRAYER 

Every morning when I awake and every evening when I go to sleep, I give thanks for my life and all other lives. Treat everyone with respect. Be respectful towards the elderly and teachers. Never speak aggressively to another. Never touch something that belongs to another. Respect the privacy of others. Never pass between people when they are in conversation. Never interrupt others when they are talking. Speak softly. Never speak unless invited to speak. Never speak negatively of others. Treat the earth like your mother. Respect beliefs of others. Listen with courtesy when others speak. Observe and listen to nature. Respect the wisdom of others around the counsel.   

THE REFUGE OF PRAYER 

I take refuge in the sacred teachings, in the community of those on the path towards the light, in those who have achieved enlightenment. Everything that I undertake today, verbally, physically and mentally, is dedicated to the well-being of others; that I aspire to help others to the best I can under all circumstances.  

MY WAY OF PRAYER 

My Lord Jesus, God the Father Almighty, Great Spirit Creator, Mother Earth, Four Grandfathers, Four Directions, Guides of light, Guardian Angels as well as all the good spirits that watch over me, I ask that you come here and now, listen and hear my prayer. Pray for Mother Earth and for all life. Pray for all two legged and four legged creatures, for those creatures that fly, swim and crawl. Pray for the vegetation and minerals. Pray for those who have died and those who have not yet been born. Pray for your teachers and all the wise men. Pray for your parents, your families and your friends. Pray for peace on earth and for the sick as well as the disadvantaged. And then, ask that they all be blessed, including your worst enemy. Then ask for what you want. You then finish your prayer by saying: Thank you for being here and now. Listening and hearing my prayer, bless this day and protect us. 

For all my relatives Ho!