Prayer for My Son

Well, only 2 weeks until my first born gets on a plane headed to the Middle East, to serve his country on the battlefield as a proud soldier of the U.S. Army. I am calm and at peace about the whole thing... most of the time; as long as I don't really think about it. But he'll be gone a long time... at least a year, and he thinks it might end up being longer than that. I know that wherever he is, he is in God's hands. Here is a prayer I found years ago, when Alex was a toddler. I remember thinking back then that this was what I wanted for him - to grow up to be not just "safe", but strong, brave, humble, and wise. How much truer now.

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 defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; 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. Build me a son whose 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 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, and the meekness of true strength.

General Douglas MacArthur