TEST1
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 unb
ending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son
who will know thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowled
ge.
Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort,毪ut under the stress an
d spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the st
orm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who w
ill 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 n
ever forget the past.
And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, s
o that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give hi
m humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the op
en mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.
Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain".