Dream Guidance
Bitter Tears had returned home to be with her family and to He Gives Sons, the man she was promised to in marriage. Before they came together he discovered that she was with child. Because he was a man of honor and did not want to disgrace her, he thought about secretly releasing her from the marriage promise.
As he wondered about these things, a messenger from the Great Spirit appeared to him in a dream, and said, "He Gives Sons, son of Much Loved One, do not be afraid to take Bitter Tears to be your wife, because the father of the child is the Holy Spirit."
The dream ended with these words from the spirit messenger.
"She will give birth to a son, you will name him Creator Sets Free, because he will set his people free from their bad hearts and wrongdoings."
This fulfilled the words spoken long ago by the prophet, "A young virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, they will call his name Creator is With Us."
When He Gives Sons awoke, he followed the guidance given him in the dream and took Bitter Tears to be his wife. But he did not have relations with her until after the child was born.
Humble Birth
When the time drew close for Bitter Tears to have her child the government of the People of Iron ordered that a census should be taken. All the people were required to travel to their ancestral homeland to register.
He Gives Sons and Bitter Tears set out on a long journey to Bethlehem the village of their ancestor Much Loved One, the great chief.
The journey took several long days and cold nights as they traveled over high hills and through the dry desert. When they arrived tired and weary, they entered the crowded village.
The time for Bitter Tears to have her child was upon her! But no place could be found in the lodging house, so He Gives Sons found a stable where it was warm and dry. There she gave birth to her son. They wrapped him in a warm soft blanket and laid him on a baby board. Then they placed him on a bed of straw in a feeding trough.
That night, in the fields nearby, sheepherders were keeping watch over their sheep. Suddenly a great light from above was shining all around them. A spirit messenger from Creator appeared to them. They shook with fear and trembled as the messenger said to them, "Don't be afraid, I bring you good news that will be for all nations. Today in the village of Much Loved One a great chief has been born, he is the Chosen One!"
The messenger continued, "This is how you will know him, you will find the child wrapped in a blanket and lying in a feeding trough."
Suddenly a great number of spirit warriors appeared giving thanks to Creator saying, "All honor to the One Above Us All and on the earth let there be peace to all who stay under the shadow of his wings."
When the spirit warriors returned to the world above the sheepherders said to each other, "Let us go and see this great thing the Creator has told to us." So they hurried to the village of Chief Much Loved One and found the child just as they were told, lying in a feeding trough!
They left with glad hearts and began to tell everyone what they had seen. All who heard their story were amazed.
The sheepherders returned to their fields, giving thanks to the Great Spirit for the wonders they had seen and heard.
Bitter Tears kept all these things hidden in the medicine pouch of her heart and wondered what all this would mean.
© 2013Terry M. Wildman