A Fathers Prayer for his son

Build me a son, oh 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 and 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 challenges. 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 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."

General Douglas MacArthur, "A Father's Prayer"