Sweat

With great trepidation, I sit with these women; they are veterans...veterans of this sweat. They sit and chatter amongst themselves excitedly. This is my very first sweat, and I am very nervous.
They come in rounds......
The first round is a prayer for the children....the little one's ....and the ones that are yet to be born. Grandfathers' are very gentle with these prayers.
The second round is for the youth; it had sense of nervous impatience and a hint of anger. Grandfathers had powerful prayers......So powerful that it robbed me of my breath. It made my heart my heart race as if it were to pop out of my chest.
I came out thinking I couldn't handle anymore, and I went back in....our youth need all the prayer in the world.
Then came the prayer for the elders; the most powerful and with these prayers came humility.
What I admire the most of an individual is their ability to persevere.
I am very grateful for the people that I have met on my journey.