"A Prayer for Fathers"

​Set my gaze upon my children.
Give me the weight of their being, oh Lord,
And impress upon me the gravity of their eternity,
That I would fear withholding any good thing from them more than I would fear my own death,
That I would be eager to do and give them as much good as I can while we both shall live,
That I would shower them with love more than and before I shower them with money,
That I would give vulrnerability more than and before I give critique,
That I would pour over their ears pleasant wisdom more than and before I pour over them bragging facts of subjects I love,
That I would cover them with love and kisses more than and before I cover them with expectations.
That I would model for them providence and hard work more than and before I model foe them success.
That I would surround them with laughter and nature more than and before I surround them with toys.
That I would take a deep interest in their gifts and weaknesses so as to praise the former and forgive the latter.
That I would turn my eyes to them when they speak to me.
That I would listen with interest.
That I would champion their successes and simply be a present support in their failures.
That I would have discernment and wisdom for when to speak and when to be silent.
That I would be last in order to be first,
That I would be weak so as to be made strong,
That I would bow down to be raised up,
That I would follow in preparation of leading well.
That I would honor and thereby find my honor.
Thay I would give and thereby always receive.
That I would labor to make them in your image and not mine.
Set my gaze upon you, oh Lord,
And impress upon me the holy idea that they belong to you.