並非生長在生活優渥的家庭,從小爸爸是個性情中人,很有才氣但不為五斗米折腰的他,卻使媽媽一個人加班熬夜上班,累的不可開交,做為兒女的我們雖沒能考上好學校讓媽媽光榮,但至少盡量做家務分擔她的辛勞及打工賺錢不拿零用錢,讀到此文章時,對於做為父親卻很少顯露的親情對話,特別深受感動。 昨夜翻到幾年前存檔印製下來兩篇,從小大家都聽過的文章 (麥克阿瑟為子祈禱文及甜蜜的負荷),也是我特別喜歡也想對我的孩子說的話。好吧,那今晚的睡前故事改為分享這兩篇文章。 麥克阿瑟為子祈禱文 (A Pray For Son) “Build me a son, O Lord, 主啊!求你塑造我的兒子, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, 使他夠堅強到能認識自己的軟弱; and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; 夠勇敢到能面對懼怕; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, 在誠實的失敗中,毫不氣餒; and humble and gentle in victory. 在勝利中,仍保持謙遜溫和。 Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; 懇求塑造我的兒子,不至空有幻想而缺乏行動; a son who will know Thee…… 引導他認識你, and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. 同時又知道,認識自己乃是真知識的基石。 Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, 我祈禱,願你引導他不求安逸、舒適, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. 相反的,經過壓力、艱難和挑戰, Here, let him learn to stand up in the storm; 學習在風暴中挺身站立, here let him learn compassion for those that fail.