Saturday, May 29, 2010

Bury - Don't Carry



Photo from Cherokee.org

Wilma Mankiller served as the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the second largest tribe in the United States, headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, from 1985 to 1995. She was born in poverty, suffered from various health issues during her life, and endured strong opposition when she decided to campaign for Chief because she was a female. During her time as Chief, the tribe flourished, and she made many notable accomplishments for which she received national recognition and awards. She was known to be a strong, but humble leader. Wilma Mankiller passed away April 6, 2010 at the age of 64 from pancreatic cancer. The current Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Chad Smith, received a letter from her a few weeks before she died. Mankiller stated in the letter how she learned long ago that she could not control her life's challenges but "I can control the way I think about them and react to them."

Four days before Mankiller passed away, she wrote a letter and requested it be read at her memorial service. A small portion of the letter reads: "I know that many people around here believe in burial. But I would like them to bury something after today. I would like them to bury any unkindness or anger or hurtful things I may have done. Bury those with me." I found Wilma Mankiller's statements thought provoking. How good are we at forgiveness and burying our grudges? Webster's Dictionary defines grudge as "a feeling of deep-seated resentment or ill will." Some people will carry unforgiveness and grudges for decades and even to the grave. We have a multitude of opportunities to acquire unforgiveness and grudges. If not dealt with, that could result in a lot of baggage for us to carry and it is not the way the Lord intends for us to live. Although I have learned that with major offenses forgiveness is not automatic, but a process that has to be walked through and prayed over frequently. Simply stated, forgiveness is literally freeing. "Bury - don't carry" is a motto I want to adopt when offenses come.

And then there is another way to think of grudges - do we hold grudges against people because of a mistake they made 30 years ago or due to their ethnicity or because their lifestyle choices don't match up to ours? The Lord is in the judging business, not us. Romans 14:13 NIV, in part, reads: Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another.

Another statement from Wilma Mankiller's final letter reads: "When I was 7 or 8 and living here, no one would have ever guessed what the future would bring. I hope people will learn from that - about themselves and about others. Don't turn away from people because of how they look or what they have, because you never know what they'll contribute to the world."

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 NIV

And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:24 NIV



Linked to Spiritual Sundays at http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

15 comments:

  1. Living in Ok I can tell you Mrs. Mankiller had quite the effect on her people and those in Oklahoma who would read and hear about her on the news quite often.

    I love what you both have shared on forgiveness...It truly is a process and WOW when forgiveness is released it.is.so.freeing!

    I woke up this morning to a text from my Brother who has been going through a very difficult time. It read:

    "It hit me! I forgave him" I immediately broke into tears because I TRULY know how very much releasing this person will help my brother. the words out of my husband were "they will really free some things up"

    Wonderful post!!

    Have a blessed weekend my friend

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  2. A good post. Hope your weekend is extra special.

    Blessings,
    Gayle

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  3. Thank you for sharing this inspirational woman with us. I am sure she has left quite a legacy in your state. Her spirit represents the best of America.

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  4. Very inspiring post. I love this "bury, don't carry."

    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  5. This is a very beautiful post honoring this woman and teaching us so much more about forgivenss...Love the quote, bury, don't carry..

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  6. I have witnessed first hand how anger and bitterness can harm you emotionally and physically. The bitter root does indeed harm many.

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  7. What an interesting informative post. Thank you for sharing with us. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  8. What a remarkable woman! Thanks for such an inspirational post!

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  9. I loved hearing about this amazing lady....Wow. Her life...her words...she was an inspiration to live our best lives. Thank you so much for sharing this...

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  10. That was so touching and a lesson well delivered. We really don't know who God will send to change our life. Sometimes they are bold and sometimes they are meek. God Bless you!

    Yoli :)

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  11. Great post. POWERFUL! We all needed this, I think. Thank you.

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  12. A thought provoking post. Holding a grudge is like a person drinking poison then saying to another who has wronged them, "There, I hope that hurts you."

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  13. This is so true! This is such an important post that I'm sure most people don't even ponder on.
    God Bless,
    Ginger

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  14. That is a beautiful. What an amazing woman!

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  15. Such a wonderful woman ! Forgiveness is necessary in our christian life .Wonderful SS Post !
    Blessings,
    ~Myrna

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