Many years ago our people would have ceremony and cremate their loved ones. The only thing they felt was numb. They felt bothered by this as they felt a real void so they asked the elders to talk with Creator in the sweat lodge ceremony about this. So in ceremony they explained the concern to Creator. Creator said "I have been waiting for this time". So Creator said “I will take all of these emotions love, anger, fear, happiness, shock, denial, acceptance depression, disbelief and gratitude and place them all into this deer hide medicine bag and mix them all up". Creator continued "I will call this grieving and you share this with all two legged". "Why so many feelings" they asked? Creator replied " because with every different memory will be different feelings attached to them". "How will we know when we are done grieving"? They asked. Creator said" four things will happen". You will understand without life there is no death and vice versa. You will know your loved one is in my care and I will never leave them or you. You will understand that you will see them again. Finally you will come to accept that grieving is the journey to healing.
Derwin Medicine Bear Decker (Modoc)
