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 these who fall.
Build me a son whose heart will be clear,
Whose goals 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 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,