The First Strawberries - Cherokee

My name is First Woman, and I remember a time when the world was so new that every sunrise painted the sky with colors no one had ever seen before. My husband, First Man, and I lived in such perfect harmony that our laughter would echo through the valleys and our footsteps were always in sync. But one day, a shadow fell over our happiness. A bitter argument rose between us like a storm cloud, dark and heavy, and our angry words fell like sharp, cold rain, each one stinging more than the last. I had never felt such a chill in my heart. With my spirit aching, I knew I could not stay in a home that was suddenly filled with such sadness. I turned my back on the life we had built, on the familiar paths and the whispering trees, and began walking east, toward the morning sun. My feet were heavy, but my mind was made up. I didn't know if I would ever return. This is the story of that sad day, and how it brought the world its very first strawberries.

As I walked and walked, my tears blurring the beautiful world around me, the Sun Spirit watched from high above. The Sun saw not only my sorrow but also my husband's, as he followed far behind me, his shoulders slumped with regret. The Sun Spirit's warm heart ached for us and wanted to help us find our way back to each other. So, it decided to create a little magic. First, the Sun shone its warmest rays on a patch of wild huckleberries, ripening them in an instant and placing them right in my path. They were the color of the twilight sky, plump and inviting. But my sadness was a thick veil over my eyes, and I walked right past them without a glance. Undeterred, the Sun tried again. It created a thicket of blackberry bushes, their fruit as dark and glistening as polished obsidian stones. Their thorny branches seemed to reach out to me, offering their sweet treasures. Still, my feet carried me forward, my mind filled only with the echo of our angry words. What could possibly make me stop? The Sun knew it had to create something entirely new, something so special it would be impossible to ignore.

Just as I felt I could walk forever, fueled by my own stubborn sadness, the most wonderful scent drifted up from the ground. It wasn't like any flower I had ever known; it was sweeter, like sunshine and honey mixed together. It was so enchanting that it made me stop in my tracks. I looked down, and my breath caught in my throat. All around my feet, nestled among low, leafy green plants, were berries unlike any I had ever seen. Can you imagine it? They were a brilliant, joyful red, dotted with tiny golden seeds that sparkled in the light. But the most amazing part was their shape—they were perfect little hearts. Hesitantly, I knelt and picked one. It felt warm and soft in my hand. As I took a bite, an explosion of juicy sweetness filled my mouth. Instantly, the anger in my heart began to melt away like snow in the spring. It was replaced by a flood of warm memories: the time First Man wove a crown of flowers for my hair, the sound of his laughter as we raced to the river, the feeling of his hand in mine. The sweet berry reminded me of the sweetness of our life together.

My path was suddenly clear. The bitterness was gone, and I only wanted to find my husband. I gathered as many of the heart-shaped berries as my hands could hold and turned back the way I had come, my steps now light and hopeful. It wasn’t long before I saw him walking toward me, his head down, his face filled with regret. I stopped in front of him. We didn't need words. Our eyes said everything. I simply held out my hands and offered him a strawberry. He took it, and as we stood there sharing the sweet, magical fruit, our anger vanished completely. Forgiveness filled the space between us. From that day forward, strawberries have grown on the earth as a beautiful reminder from the Creator that love and forgiveness can heal any disagreement. For my people, the Cherokee, this story is a precious gift passed down through generations. It teaches us that kindness is more powerful than anger and inspires us to resolve our differences, remembering that love, just like the sweet taste of a strawberry, can always bring us back together.