望子成龍是天下父母最大的心愿,即使是征戰沙場的麥克阿瑟將軍也不例外,讀了這篇柔情至深的為兒子祈福的禱告詞,你會作何感想?
1. 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’s afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
2. Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee (You)... and that to know himself is the foundation of knowledge.
3. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur(刺激,激勵) of difficulties and challenges.
4. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion(憐憫,同情) for those who fail.
5. 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, and never forget the past.
6. And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be lively as well as serious. Give him humility(謙卑,謙遜), so that he may al?鄄ways remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meek?鄄ness(溫順,懦弱) of true strength. Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”
1.主啊,懇請這樣塑造我的兒子:使他堅強到能夠認識自己的軟弱之處;勇敢到在恐懼時能夠正視自己;在誠實的失敗中,能夠自豪不屈;在勝利順境時謙和溫遜。
2.懇請這樣塑造我的兒子:使他不僅能胸懷希望,而且能付諸行動;使他能夠感知您的至圣;使他了解自知之明是一切知識的基石。
3.懇請不要把他引入安逸、舒適的道路,而使他能夠在困難及挑戰的壓力和督促之下奮勇前進。
4.在此請讓他學會在暴風雨中屹立不屈,同時請讓他學會對受到挫折的人給予憐憫和同情。
5.懇請為我培養一個心地清明、目標高遠的兒子,使他在指揮別人之前,先懂得駕馭自己,在對未來善加籌劃的同時,永不忘記過去。
6.除此之外,還請求您賜予他一點幽默感,使他既嚴肅又不失活潑。給他一點謙遜,使他可以永遠記住真實偉大的樸實無華,真實智慧的虛懷若谷和真實力量的溫和蘊藉。那么,我,他的父親,才敢默默自許:“我這輩子沒有白活。”
作者簡介:
道格拉斯·麥克阿瑟(Douglas MacArthur),
美國陸軍五星上將。出生于阿肯色州小石城的軍人世家。麥克阿瑟有過50年的軍事實踐經驗,被美國國民稱為“一代老兵”,而其自身又曾是“美國最年輕的準將、西點軍校最年輕的校長、美國陸軍歷史上最年輕的陸軍參謀長”,憑借精妙的軍事謀略和敢戰敢勝的膽識,麥克阿瑟堪稱美國戰爭史上的奇才。