In remembrance of his brother James (Jim) Matthews, who passed on Octobre 29th, my brother-in-law Robert (Bob) Matthews shared with family and friends Jim’s favorite
prayer. It is from the Navajo Blessing Way ceremony. Bob explained that the whole ceremony can
take a couple days, but this is from the last song in the cycle. My husband, Dewayne Matthews, read it during Jim's memorial last Sunday. It is so beautiful that I felt compelled to share it here. I will miss Jim dearly.
Today I will walk out, today everything
negative will leave me.
I will be as I was before, I will have a cool
breeze over my body.
I will have a light body, I will be happy
forever, nothing will hinder me.
I walk with beauty before me, I walk with
beauty behind me.
I walk with beauty below me, I walk with beauty
above me.
I walk with beauty around me. My words will be
beautiful.
In beauty all day may I walk.
Through the returning seasons may I walk.
On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.
. . .
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty,
lively may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty,
living again may I walk.
My words will be beautiful.