Marion Gaskins

Editor’s note: While General Douglas MacArthur was stationed in Australia and acting as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, he penned this prayer for his only son, Arthur.                                                                   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 ...

Esther 9-10 New International Version (NIV) 9  On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,  the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand  over those who hated them.   2  The Jews assembled in their cities  in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them,  because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them.   3  And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews,  because fear of Mordecai had seized them. 4  Mordecai  was prominent  in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.        5  The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killi...

Esther 8 New International Version (NIV) 8  That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman,  the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her.   2  The king took off his signet ring,  which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate. 3  Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite,  which he had devised against the Jews.   4  Then the king extended the gold scepter  to Esther and she arose and stood before him. 5  “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor  and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the...