Prayer For My Son In Service

by

Amy Beddow Finch (1898-1960)

God, watch over my son tonight, on land, or on the Sea

Cleanse him of doubt, Free him of fear, and lift his heart to Thee.

God Bless his hands - so lately turned from boyish games of skill.

They must grow ever steadier now, for they must learn to kill.

Protect his vision, brighten his eyes, for he must stand

alone on guard under the darkening skies.

Let his body grow hard, on strong unfaltering legs that

will carry him on relentlessly when his spirit holds back and begs.

Give him unbounding courage, God, courage to take

defeat as a stepping stone to higher ground, and never retreat.

Let everlasting faith well up out of anguish when all hopes fail,

knowing that God is just ahead, blazing the trail.

Give him happy memories of home, after the day is done,

Let them sustain and comfort him as he touches them one by one.

And Please, when he comes home again with the victory that won the war,

may he smile and say to you and me. "This is worth fighting for."