Build me a son, 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 humble¹ and gentle in victory.

 

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone² should be; 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 compassion³ for those who fail.

 

His 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 learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; 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 humility⁴, so that he may always remember the simplicity⁵ of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness⁶ of true strength.

 

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

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