Dear Lord,
Help me give my children the best... not of trappings or toys,
but of myself, cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine.
Teach me to accept them for who they are, not for what they do;
to listen to what they say, if only so they will listen to me;
to encourage their goals, not mine;
and please, let me laugh with them and be silly.
Let me give them a home where respect is
the cornerstone, integrity the foundation, and
there is enough happiness to raise the roof. May I give
them the courage to be true to themselves;
the independence to take care of
themselves and the faith
to believe in a power much greater
than their own.
See that I discipline my children without
demeaning them, demand good manners without
forgetting my own, and let them know they have
limitless love, no matter what they do.
Let me feed them properly, clothe
them adequately and have enough to give
them small allowances... not for the work they do but
the pleasure they bring. And let me be
moderate in all these things,
so the joy of getting will help them
discover the joy of giving.
See that their responsibilities are real but not burdensome,
that my expectations are high but not overwhelming
and that my thanks and praise are thoughtful
and given when they're due.
Help me teach them that excellence is work's real reward,
and not the glory it brings. But when it comes.. and it will.. let me
revel in each honor, however small, without once pretending
that it's mine; my children are glories enough.
Above all, let me ground these children so well that I can
dare to let them go. And may they be so blessed.
by Marguerite Kelly
