08 March, 2011

A {Mother's} Prayer

Today, after Milo through a full-blown fit at Kid's Body Shop (he was workin' on his fitness, I'm his witness) I was discussing with Mary Anne how I think Milo really just needs his daddy. 


Annnnd then we're in the car about 5 minutes later and there is radio broadcast discussing the importance of fathers in a young man's life.  The one man said, "A boy without a father is like an explorer without a compass."  Amen, that's good, hallelujah, so be it.  Do you think the big guy upstairs might be trying to tell me (or us) something?  Couldn't be better timing either, since Justin is just a month away from signing up for another four years.  Nothing like a message over the radio waves to make you completely doubt your future!


At the end of the broadcast, the gent read this prayer/poem by General Douglas MacArthur.  I am pretty sure I was weeping by the last sentence.




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 wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee….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 compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clean, 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 humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

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



If that doesn't tug on the ol' heart-strings, then check your pulse.  You may be dead.



1 comment:

  1. oh, i love that. what a great prayer.

    i need to go pray now...

    ReplyDelete

Like this post? Show me some love via comment.

Hated this post? Well, I guess that's your choice. But I still like you.