Here Are 20 Sayings That shows the Gentle Teachings from Cherokee Elders

Cherokee Elders’ teachings typically start with respect. Respect is of utmost concern. The Elders have said that everyone should be treated with care. They also instill lessons of the veneration of the earth, animals, water and the sky. There is a connection between all life and meaning in each and every part. If the individual has a respectful life, the heart will be more peaceful. Another lesson from the Cherokee elders is to listen. Listening Does Not Equate With Listening To Words. It is to pay full attention to a person’s utterance. It means to have patience and quietness within.

Cherokee Elders

Wisdom doesn’t always come quickly, elders know. In some instances, the heart needs to hear it many times before it is heard. Another gentle touch is kindness. Elders remind people of kind words that heal. A soft heart can bring peace to a home, family and community. Kindness is not weakness: It’s a gentle power. Helps others stay together and to care for each other on easy days and hard days. Cherokee elders also instruct that family and community is important.

Elders are also a source of patience. Things in life don’t always go the way we wish. Some days are slow. There are days that are painful. Not all dreams are made overnight. Elders say that the heart is calmed by patience. For a patient man there is more courage in life, and less fear. Memory is also an important part of the Cherokee teachings of the elders. It’s important to remember the past. It is filled with lessons, stories and truth. Recalling the past aids in the identification of persons. It allows them to pay tribute to their ancestors. Memory preserves and sustains identity.

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The Cherokee language is full of beauty and feeling, of history. The Elders understand that language means more than words. It is a part of the soul of a people. Language is respected – culture is respected. This provides a greater sense of pride amongst younger people. Elders also impart the balance. There must be balance in life – work and rest, talk and listen, give and take. During an imbalance in life, the heart can become fatigued. Balance in life, there is peace. It facilitates a human to tread softly on the earth.

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The time honored lessons of the Cherokee Elders are laced with love and wisdom. They teach respect, patience, kindness, memory, language and caring for others are taught. They aren’t loudly taught, but they are powerfully taught. They lead and fortify the heart and they strengthen the spirit. Cherokee Elders remind people that a good life is not just about success. It is also a way to live with harmony, affection and peace. Wisdom is a gift they have to give. Its legacy lives on through families, communities and future generations.

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