Cherokee Indian Youth Rite

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His
father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is
required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold
until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for
help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the
other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on
his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises.
Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do
him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat
stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could
become a man!  Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he
removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on
the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his
son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is
watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we
have to do is reach out to Him. If you liked this story, pass it on. If not,
nothing is going to befall you, I promise!!!!!!!! Just thought you might
like the thought.