My Son - DEAR WORLD

DEAR WORLD

My Young Son starts to school today…It’s all going to be sort of strange and new to him for awhile, and I wish you would sort of treat him gently.

You see, up to now he’s been king of the roost..He’s been boss of the back-yard.. His mother has always been near to soothe his wounds and repair his feelings.

But now things are going to be different.

This morning, he’s going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start out on the great adventure…It is an adventure ta might take him across continents, across oceans, ..It’s an adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow…To live his life in the world he will have to live in will require faith and love and courage.

So, World, I wish you would wort of look after him….Take him by the hand and teach him things he will have to know.

But do it gently, if you can.

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, that all men are not true.

But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero…that for every crooked politician there is a great and dedicated leader…Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend.

It will take him, World, I know. But teach him, if you can, that a nickel earned is of far more value that a dollar found….Teach him to learn to lose so he’ll enjoy winning that much more.

Steer him away from envy if you can…and teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that bullies are the easiest people to ship in the schoolyard…Teach him, if you can, the wonders of books. But also let him ponder the eternal mystery of birds on the wind, and bees in the sun, and flowers on the green hill.

In school, World, teach him it is far more honorable to fail then to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone says they are wrong…Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon…Teach him to listen to all men-but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take just the good that siphons through.

Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he’s sad…Teach him there is no shame in tears..Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success.

Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness…Teach him to sell his brains and brawn to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him how to close his ears to a howling mob…But to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right.

Teach him there are times when a man must gamble…And there are times when a man must pass the dice.

Treat him gently, World, if you can. But don’t coddle him…Because only the test of fire makes fine steel…Let him have the courage to be impatient…Let him have the patience to be brave.

Let him be no man’s man…Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself.

Because the, he will always have sublime faith in mankind.

This is quite an order, World, but see what you can do…He’s such a nice little follow, my son!

(Author unknown by believe it could be my father – Myron Taylor)