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 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 weakness of true strength.
Then I, his father will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain. "
Douglas MacArthur, June "early" 1942, Philippines
I would argue that the above are the qualities we are looking to instill in our cadets, regardless of gender, and which are in too short supply these days.
While framed in a Christian prayer, I would hazard that the sentiment is echoed by most caring parents, regardless of religious belief.
Eclipse, Thank you fo sharing. Brings tears to an old man's eyes, especially one with 3 sons. This is what life is really all about. Thank you.
MacArthur was ordered out of the Philippines by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 23 February 1942 and left Luzon beginning on 11 March. This should be attributed to MacArthur in Australia.
You're correct.
MacArthur was selected Father of the Year on June 18, 1942 after drafting this Father's Prayer for his four year old son.
MacArthur said. "By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact. But I am prouder-infinitely prouder-to be a father.
A soldier destroys in order to build; the father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentiality of death; the other embodies creation and life.
And while the hordes of death are mighty, the battalions of life are mightier still. It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from the battle but in the home repeating with him our simple daily prayer, 'Our Father Who Art in Heaven.'"
How the son ended up Arthur MacArthur IV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_MacArthur_IV).
I found this interesting:
QuoteTo pursue his career objectives while avoiding comparisons, MacArthur lives under an assumed name.
Quote from: RRLE on October 30, 2014, 10:51:20 PM
How the son ended up Arthur MacArthur IV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_MacArthur_IV).
I found this interesting: QuoteTo pursue his career objectives while avoiding comparisons, MacArthur lives under an assumed name.
That was interesting thank you for sharing. :clap: