OCR Text |
Show A MOTHER'S PRAYER O, Lord, Thou has put into my keeping the life of this, my Child He is weak help to make him strong! He has no knowledge help me to leach him wisdoml I would keep him always in the sun, that his limbs may be itraighl and his feet sure in the rough paths of the worldl I would nourish his body with the food gifts of the milch cow and with the green things of the Earth, that he .may be rosy and firm-floshed, and filled with the joy of keen health; I would fail not to guard him from the terrors of disease, from crowded crowd-ed places, and from the Judas kisses of unthinking friends; I would teach him the delight of clean skin, clean speech, and clean thoughts his mind shall know sunlight as does his body; I would walk with him in the pleasant valleys of Bookland, and lead him up to the infinite hills where abideth Thy Word; I would give great pictures for his eyes, great music for his ears, great gentleness for his heart; he shall know nobleness where-ever where-ever Tie finds it, and that it dwelleth as often among the sha-dovs sha-dovs as in the high places; I would teach his hands the blessedness of work, when that work is honorable and well done; and that its reward is in the doing and not in the praise of other men; I would leach him to be faithful in the tasks of every day, lest Death should catch him sleeping at his post; I would lake him to lhe middle of the seas, where is the Father of all Waters, and under the stars, I would show him how puny is the thing called Man, but how splendid beyond Time and Change is the unconquerable, adventurous spirit of Manl O. Lord. I would do all these Ihingg and many more for this little Son that Thou hast given into my keeping But who am L that have failed so miserably with my own ways, lo have this grace of Motherhood I Lord, open mine eyes with Thy Finger of Light, lest in the dark night of my blindness I lead his trusting leel astrayl . Alice Rogers Hager. |