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 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 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 compassion for those who fail i 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 humility so that he may always remember the simplicity of
true 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