Scapegoat by R.
M.
Bode This is a story about a goat that always seems to take the blame.
He always seems to be the goat that causes trouble and shame.
Ever since he was a baby goat kid,
Scapegoat took the blame while the other baby goats hid.
If the farm fence was broken or the barn wall smashed,
It was always scapegoat to step forward unabashed.
Whenever Scape faces such hostility and accusation,
He retreats to the wilderness to a place of calming relaxation.
Upon his return to the farm on a sunny spring day,
A goat approached Scape and it looked like he had something important to say.
Hey,
Scope,
He said with an inquisitive look on his face,
Why do you take the blame for things you never even did in the first place?
Scape replied,
It is my honor to take the blame for others,
To save them from pain.
That's very honorable,
His goat friend said,
But what do you get from this deal?
What do you gain?
The way I see it,
He continued in stride,
There must be a more valuable lesson inside.
Perhaps there's another way to help other goats,
It's true,
By allowing goats to accept responsibility for all their own acts that they do.
A big part of growing up is taking responsibility for all that we do,
Not just our successes,
But our missteps and mistakes too.
Scape goat felt a sense of relief and ease,
He no longer felt the urge to bear others blame to appease.
From this day forward,
Scape goat declared,
He would no longer accept the blame when it wasn't his to be shared.
Scape goat no longer takes on all others blame,
He no longer takes on other goats burdens in his name.
Scape goat realized that he was taking on so much blame in an effort to impress.
Now that he's let it go,
Scape feels healthier with a lot less stress.
Scape goat had unknowingly given all of the other goats a great gift.
It didn't take long for the behavior of the other goats to shift.
Scape is feeling wonderful and the other goats are prosperous too.
They are honest and truthful,
Accepting responsibility for all that they do The goats all learned the valuable lesson of owning up to their triumphs and especially their mistakes.
All goats mess up sometimes,
No goat is perfect for goodness sakes.
Now the goats no longer need Scape to always take the fall.
Together they share responsibility of truth and honesty for all.
