Web site tribute to Rachel and Justin 

 by Karen and Jonathon Andell 

 JONATHON'S PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE RAISING OUR SON:

 We thank you, O God, for the blessing of children to love, both the one in whose honor we gather today, and the one now in Your care. We pray that you will help us to be worthy of the great responsibility which we have pursued so hard and for so long, and which now You grant us at this hour. 

 As with every other human, You have bestowed upon our son great potential for kindness, intelligence, beauty, and happiness. At the same time, You have challenged Justin by granting him his share of every person's potential for much less. 

 Please help us as we endeavor to guide him toward the paths of goodness and life. Help us, we pray, in our feeble attempts to achieve the delicate balances faced by all parents: 

To protect him from the dangers of the world, without abandoning our obligation to correct him fairly and consistently.

To establish and maintain fair and consistent boundaries, but to be patient and gentle in their enforcement. 

To show him love and patience, while encouraging him to seek and attain high standards. 

To encourage him to seek and attain high standards, balanced by the humility to recognize his limitations. 

To help him see his limitations, but to enable him to accept and love himself. 

To give him frequent and honest praise, to listen fairly, and to trust him, but not to blind ourselves to the imperfections that You have bestowed upon him. 

To recognize his shortcomings, and still to love and accept him for whatever he becomes. 

 O God, we know that these challenges are far beyond our meager abilities to achieve perfectly. Therefore, we pray that you will be there to help us. Please, God, let our flaws and mistakes never bring harm to our son or shame to You. Please let it be Your will that he grow strong, and that he enjoy a long and happy life. And if You will forgive one request of terrible selfishness: please God, please, when our times on earth are over, let our departures be mourned by a son of whom we are justifiably proud.