Prayer for My Sons
Build me a son, O Lord,
who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, brave enough to face himself when he is afraid,
Build me a son,
whose wishes will not take the place of deeds…Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort,but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenges. Let him learn to stand in the storm;let him learn compassion for those who fall.
Build me a son,
whose heart is clear, whose goals will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master others; who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.
And after all these things are his, add, I pray,
enough of a sense of humor so that he may always be serious yet never take himeself too seriously…
Then, I, his father will dare to whisper,”I have not lived in vain.”
—-
General Douglas MacArthur
