The Original Gift

by Summer Breeze

"Grandpa," Sally asked, "Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving Day?"

"Ah ho," Grandfather replied, "A very good thing to think about! Most people now-a-days say it is to be thankful for all we have received, but
in the old days it meant Thanks For Giving."

"How long ago was that Grandpa?" Sally wanted to know.

"As far back as anyone can remember, even before we learned to
write things down. The old ones use to tell a story they called The
Original Gift."

"Grandpa! I'm seven years old now, you don't need to tell me a
little children's story. I am big enough to hear one for grown-ups!"

"My yes, you are very grown up. But this story is about two grown
ups, in fact, it's a story about two twelve-year-old boys. They met each
other by getting lost in the same woods, on the very same day! They
were so grown up they were not even afraid. Well, you might say they
were concerned about how long it would be before they found their
way back home.

* * *

"The first problem we will have is finding water," Jeremiah said.
"And I'm thirsty right now!"

"Here," Daniel said, handing Jeremiah his water bag. "We'll just
take small sips when we get very thirsty."

* * *

"You mean WATER was the Original Gift?" Sally wondered.

"More important than the water," said Grandfather, "It was one
person caring enough for another to share what they have,
especially when neither one could know how long it would be
before they found more water."

"Grandpa," Sally asked, "Why do some people seem embarrassed
when they give a gift?"

Grandfather smiled, "Have you noticed that people sometimes are embarrassed when they receive gifts? Mostly, it's because people
have forgotten the story of The Original Gift. In these times people
give gifts for many reasons, some of them are very good, and some
of them are not so good."

"But how do we know if our giving is good or not?"  Sally wanted
to know.

"It's how you feel inside," Grandfather replied, "if you expect
something in return, it is not a true gift, and then you will feel hurt if
you don't receive something."

"The bible says you will get back a hundred fold if you do a good
deed," Sally responded, "And I think giving is a good deed."

"Yes," Grandfather answered, "But that is part of the problem. The
bible does not say when you will be rewarded. People live so fast now
days that they want everything right now! And this includes being paid
back for a good deed. The ancient ones knew that everyone, sometime
in their lives, will do something that they wish they had not done.
Giving gifts is one way to make amends for doing a bad thing."

"I remember, Sally said, "You told me people use to believe in helping
others 'save face'. I guess if there are many reasons to give a gift, no one would know exactly why one person decided to give a gift to another."

"That is true Sally," Grandfather nodded, "People first started giving
gifts for the same reasons the two boys did. They would see someone
who needed food or clothing, even horses, and they would share what
they had. Back then, people didn't need a reason to give a gift. I think
people have always given gifts to ones they love.

"The native Americans have a special ceremony called Give Away.
The Chief of the tribe had to give away enough so that he would always
have less than all other members of his tribe. He was loved and
respected, so he was given many gifts. He was able to use these gifts
himself, until the next Give Away ceremony. Then he would give his
gifts to those who needed them most. Everyone in the tribe would
make gifts for each other."

"I know some time ago people started giving gifts for birthdays and holidays," added Sally.

"Yes my dear," Grandfather frowned, "Things really got confused then! Some people began to feel they were very important because they could
give more expensive gifts than someone else."

"Yeah," Sally sadly replied, "I don't even want to talk about how weird people become at Christmas! Maybe I'm not so grown up. I'd rather hear
what happened to Jeremiah and Daniel."

"Well," Grandfather continued, "The boys decided to follow an
arroyo, knowing they would need water long before they would need
food or shelter. They had drunk their very last drop of water about
three miles back, when Daniel, being very hot and very thirsty, started
to stumble.

* * *

"I'm feeling awfully weak," said Daniel.

"You sit down here awhile," Jeremiah offered, "I see something very
green up ahead. See where the arroyo looks like it ends about half
a mile ahead? It makes a sharp turn to the right. If I find water I'll signal
you by waving my poncho."

Daniel sat down at the foot of a big oak tree. He didn't really want to
stay behind, but he had been walking for four hours before he had
met Jeremiah.

* * *

"Go on Grandpa, and then what?" Sally begged.

* * *

Suddenly Daniel heard "Yah Hoo, Yah Hoo! Wheee!" Jeremiah
was so excited he forgot his plan to signal Daniel. He was so happy
to find water he jumped right in! 'Whee, Wahoo!" he shouted.

It didn't take Daniel long to realize the sounds he heard were coming
from Jeremiah in some water!

Daniel no longer felt tired. He was thinking of water and drinking and jumping in himself. In fact, he ran the whole way!

* * *

"But did they get un-lost Grandpa?" Sally wanted to know.

"Yes. Some hunters found the water hole too, they heard the
commotion the boys were making. The hunters were thankful for
the help from the boys. They let them ride double on their horses,
and the boys arrived back with their own people just in time for the
Setting of the Sun Ceremony."

"Thank you Grandpa," Sally replied with a big smile, "I will always remember the stories you have told me. When I grow way  up, I will
write little children's books and they will not be forgotten."

"No, my Granddaughter, you must start now, if that is what you wish
to do. Many people have an idea of what they want to do when they
are very young, but the ways of the world are very distracting. You
wish to write now, then do so now."

"Come," Grandfather said, taking Sally by the hand, "I have just the
things you need tucked away in my tool box."

"Oh Grandpa, thank you, thanks! You give me the gift of stories and
now, something to write them down on," as she took the pencil and
paper he handed her and hugged them to her chest.