A Father's Prayer

Da Boys & Daddy this morning.

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Many blessings to all of the fathers! 

When I was around 16 years old and had been acting particularly ornery, I found this prayer on my dresser when I got home from school.  My father was a man of few words, however this prayer has resonated with me my whole life. 

It leads my book, A Travel Guide to Leadership, and I hope his wisdom blesses your day.  Rest in peace, Benjamin Abraham Mikolaj.

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A Father's Prayer
Circa 1978

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 is afraid;
One who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,
And humble and gentle in victory.
 
Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds;
A son who will know thee…
And that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
 
Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort,
But under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.
Here, let him learn to stand up in the storm;
Here, let him learn compassion for those who fail.
 
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,
Yet never forget the past.
 
And after all these things are his,
Add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor so that he may always be serious,
Yet never take himself too seriously.
Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness,
The open mind of true wisdom,
And the meekness of true strength.

BENJAMIN ABRAHAM MIKOLAJ

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Have an amazing journey today!

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Alan Mikolaj is a seasoned coach and leadership development consultant with nearly 20 years of experience.  He is passionate about helping leaders transform their leadership, their teams, and their organizations.  He has an impactful, professional approach driven by a passion for meaning and purpose, a growth mindset, and a commitment to excellence and service in order to drive change and results.

Alan holds his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and Associate Certified Coach credential with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and maintains their ethics and standards of behavior, including the standards regarding confidentiality.  You can learn more about them on the ICF website.

Transformational change starts with a conversation!
Alan is on a mission to partner with like-minded leaders who want to make a positive difference in the world.  Schedule your free, one-hour session by clicking here: Discovery Conversation with Alan
Or call or email: Contact Page

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