Lakota Sioux Prayer

I ran across a prayer to the Earth written many years ago by the Lakota Sioux and mixing my words in with theirs… I'd like to share this prayer with you: Oh Great Spirit..whose voice I hear in the wind and whose breath has given life and innocence to me… I am small and weak and I need your wisdom to help me understand and admire all the beauty that I see. Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Help my hands respect all you've created across the air, the sea the land. Help my ears be sharp enough to hear the words you speak…, give my soul the strength, my heart the acceptance… and my mind the wisdom to understand. To comprehend all you're trying to teach me… every principle, every concept and belief… help me find and learn the lessons you have hidden in every flower, rock and leaf. Help me find the strength and courage to keep my heart and mind open…to help my spirits soar… Show me every day how to be a better person than I was the day before. Help me live this way every day so each morning when I rise I can come to you with a loving heart, clean hands and conscientious eyes. So when my life is fading…as the sunset fades I can happily exclaim…. I am sending my innocent spirit back to you with no remorse, regret…or shame.