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 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 sense of humour, 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 weakness of true strength.
Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."--General MacArthur.

--Martha E. Lambert

We love our children when they're good,
But when they're bad, in trouble,
For reasons barely understood
We love them almost double.

We love our children when they want
Affection and expect it,
And even more, those times they taunt
Our loving and reject it.

We love them when they make us cry
And when you'd think we daren't,
And no one knows the reason why,
Except another parent.

--Richard Armour

A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.

There are little eyes upon you,
And they're watching night and day;
There are little ears that quickly
Take in everything you say;
There are little hands all eager
To do everything you do,
And a little boy who's dreaming
Of the day he'll be like you.

You're the little fellow's idol,
You're the wisest of the wise;
In his little mind about you
No suspicions ever rise;
He believes in you devoutly,
Holds all that you say and do,
He will say and do it your way
When he's grown up just like you.

There's a wide-eyed little fellow
Who believes you're always right,
And his ears are always open,
And he watches day and night.
You are setting an example
Every day in all you do
For the little boy who's waiting
To grow up to be like you.

--Leslie Hale

By the time some parents get around to putting a foot down, the child already has his on the accelerator.