Build Me a Son, O Lord...

Griff- 19 years old

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

GRIFF!

Build Me a Son 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 wishbone

will not be where his backbone should be;

A son who will know Thee

and 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 learn to laugh,

yet never forget to weep;

One who will reach into the future ,

yet never forget the past.

And after all these 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."

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