A Father's Prayer by General Douglas MacArthur(麦帅为子祈祷文)
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 that 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.
Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."
主啊,请使我的儿子足够坚强,知道什么时候他最软弱;足够勇敢,在他害怕时能够自持;使他成为一个胜不骄,败不馁的人。
请使我的儿子能够不以空想代替行动;使他认识你──同时知道认识自己是知识的基石。
我祈求,不要让他走上安逸舒适的道路,而让他接受困虽及挑战的磨练和刺激。让他从中学习在风暴中站立起来,让他从中学习同情失败者。
请使我的儿子心地纯洁,目光远大,使他在打算指挥别人之前,先学会驾驭自己,使他成为一个瞩望将来,但永不忘记过去的人。
如果他能作到以上所说的一切,我还要祈祷上帝赐给他充份的幽默感,那样尽管他可能经常保持严肃,但不致于使他自己过于矜持。赐给他谦恭,使他可以时刻记住真正伟大之单纯质朴,真正智慧之兼容并蓄,真正力量之温和谦冲。
然后,作为父亲的我.才敢轻声的说:『我总算没有虚度此生。』
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 that 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.
Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."
主啊,请使我的儿子足够坚强,知道什么时候他最软弱;足够勇敢,在他害怕时能够自持;使他成为一个胜不骄,败不馁的人。
请使我的儿子能够不以空想代替行动;使他认识你──同时知道认识自己是知识的基石。
我祈求,不要让他走上安逸舒适的道路,而让他接受困虽及挑战的磨练和刺激。让他从中学习在风暴中站立起来,让他从中学习同情失败者。
请使我的儿子心地纯洁,目光远大,使他在打算指挥别人之前,先学会驾驭自己,使他成为一个瞩望将来,但永不忘记过去的人。
如果他能作到以上所说的一切,我还要祈祷上帝赐给他充份的幽默感,那样尽管他可能经常保持严肃,但不致于使他自己过于矜持。赐给他谦恭,使他可以时刻记住真正伟大之单纯质朴,真正智慧之兼容并蓄,真正力量之温和谦冲。
然后,作为父亲的我.才敢轻声的说:『我总算没有虚度此生。』