FWD: Great Wolf and Little Mouse Sister

[Guest guest]

GREAT WOLF AND LITTLE MOUSE SISTER

Once a Great wolf stood crying in a golden meadow. Little Mouse

Sister poked her head out of the ground to see who was making the

noise. She felt sad to see Great wolf so unhappy and wanted to help.

"Great Wolf Brother, why are you crying?" she asked.

" Because I've lost my eyes and cannot see," he returned. "Who are you?"

Little Mouse Sister hopped closer and saw that it was true; the Great

Wolf was truly blind. "How did you loose your eyes?" asked the little

mouse.

"My eyes fell out because I was very foolish and very selfish. If only

I could see I'd never be selfish again." The wolf resumed his crying.

"Please," said the Little Mouse Sister, " I will help you."

Great wolf laughed scornfully through his tears. "A little mouse help

the great wolf?"

"I will give you my eyes," she said. And she did.

The Great Wolf leaped and bounded in delight, forgetting entirely the

one who'd given him sight, knocking her to the ground as he leapt.

But when he saw her where she'd fallen, so kind, so humble, so

unafraid, tears fell from his ne

w eyes, washing away the hardness he had so long carried in his heart.

"My little sister, why did you give me your eyes?"

"Because I've always been taught to give my very best for my brothers

and sisters, that they may be well and happy. My eyes were my very best."

The Great Wolf then sat by his Little Mouse Sister. Her words brought

back ancient memories of a radiant morning when all creatures gathered

under the Tree of Life, when they learned to love the Creator of all

things and each other. Great Wolf finally spoke, "Little Sister, do

you remember the promise of the Sacred Lake?"

"Yes, but I could never find it now."

"Not alone, perhaps, but together we could find it."

So together, the mouse on the wolf's back, the two friends set out on

a long and difficult journey. They traveled the Good Red Road, North

to the mountains and met with many adventures along the way. First,

they met Otter on the road and asked her if she knew the way to the

Sacred Lake.

"Sure, I know the way," said the Otter. "I travel their quite often.

If you let me ride on your shoulders, brother Wolf, I'll show you the

way."

The trio traveled together for several hours all the while the Otter

had been running in and out of the bushes playing hide and seek until

the Great Wolf noticed that they had passed the same tree a second time.

"Silly Otter, you have been toying with us, we have been traveling in

a circle," said the Wolf.

"Yes,yes you are right, but I have enjoyed our time together, good

luck on your journey to the Sacred Lake."

Again the wolf and the mouse set off for their destination and along

their way they noticed an owl watching them from the branch of a near

by tree.

"Oh wise Owl," asked the wolf, "do you know the way to the Sacred Lake?"

"You are wasting your time," said the Owl, "I am the smartest creature

in the forest and I have not been able to find it, therefore you

ignorant beings will never find it."

But neither the playful Otter, nor the proud and learned Owl detained

them from their path. At last, they reached their destination: the

most beautiful lake the wolf had ever seen, hidden high in the snow

capped mountains.

"My beloved sister, we've come to the end of our journey. If only you

could see this beautiful lake!"

"But I can see it—I can see it in my heart! I think I'll walk the

rest of the way."

Little Mouse Sister grasped the Great Wolf's tail as they walked to

the edge of the Sacred Lake. Great Wolf reached into his pouch and

took out tobacco to make his offering. He asked the powers of the

West, whence comes thunder and lightening to help his sister. He

called on the powers of the North, whence comes the white snow; and

the powers of the East, whence comes the red sunrise; and the powers

of the South, whence comes new life; and asked all these powers to

assist his sister. Then he offered his tobacco to Father Sky in honor

of the Great Spirit and all of the old people that had gone on to the

Spirit World. Finally he beseeched Mother Earth, that brings forth

and sustains all life. Then the Great Wolf leaned down and kissed his

little sister good-bye. "I've done all that I can, Little Sister.

The rest you must do yourself. Remember that the Creator speaks to

each of us in our own way."

"Thank you, Great Wolf Brother."

"Thank you, beloved Sister, for your generous gift. If you need me,

just call and I'll return."

Alone, Little Mouse Sister waited patiently. She asked the Great

Spirit to watch over the Otter and the Owl and all the other

creatures. She asked special blessing for her brother Wolf, who she

loved so very much. She heard a Voice say,

"Granddaughter, jump!"

The little mouse jumped.

"Jump higher!"

She jumped higher.

"JUMP HIGHER, GRANDDAUGHTER!"

Then the little mouse sister jumped higher then she believed possible

and suddenly she felt herself soaring above the earth. The Voice

said, "OPEN YOUR EYES, GRANDDAUTER."

When she opened her eyes, the little mouse found that she'd become the

mighty Eagle. She screeched in happiness.

Again the voice spoke. "Granddaughter, because you shared the best

you had to help another find life, you shall henceforth be known as

the Sacred Eagle. You shall fly above all the people's horizon and be

a sign to them."

And that is how the Little Mouse became the Mighty Eagle—the Eagle of

love, understanding, and vision.