Native American Prayers

Oh Great Spirit
John Yellow Lark

Whose voice I hear in the wind,
Whose breath gives life to the world,
Hear me!

I come to you as one of your many children.
I am small and weak.

I need your strength and wisdom.
May I walk in beauty.

Make my eyes behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things that you have made,
And my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may know the things
That you have taught your children--

The lessons that you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
Make me strong, not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to fight my greatest enemy: myself.

Make me ever ready to come to you with straight eyes, so that When life fades as the faded sunset
My spirit will come to you without shame.

Earth Teach Me to Remember
Ute, North American

Earth teach me stillness
as the grasses are stilled with light.
Earth teach me suffering
as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility
as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth Teach me caring
as the mother who secures her young.
Earth teach me courage
as the tree which stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation
as the ant which crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom
as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me resignation
as the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me regeneration
as the seed which rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself
as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness
as dry fields weep in the rain.