~Per l' amaro e il dolce?~

A Father's Pray


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 honest defeat , and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds ; a son who will know Thee-----and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him , I pray , not in the path of ease and comfort , but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.

Here let him learn to stand up in the storm ; here let him learn compssion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear , whose goal will be high ; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men ; one 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 himself too seriously.

Give him humble condition or state of mind , so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness , the open mind of true wisdom , and the mildness of true strength.

Then I , his father , will dare to wisper , "I have not lived in vain."


--------From "The Young Soldier"