THE PRAYER OF A FATHER

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud and unbending in defeat, but humble and gentle in victory. A son who will know that to know himself is the foundation stone of all true knowledge. Rear him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenges. Here, let him learn to stand up in the storm... here, let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men. Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high. One who will learn to laugh. Yet, never forget how to weep. One who will reach into the future and yet never forget the past. And after all these are his, add, I pray, enough of sense of humor so that he may always be serious yet never take himself seriously. A touch of humility, so that he will always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. Then, I, his father will dare in the sacred recesses of my heart to whisper: "I have not lived in vain."

(Unknown)