There once was a pushy parent, who could not be satisfied.
His son's cautious behavior had often damaged his pride.
Whatever he did, his dad pushed for more.
"C'mon! Don't be timid. Don't try to conserve!
I'll be disappointed if you hold back a reserve."
"Fling yourself forward! This team is conjoint!
Don't fail me right now.
Don't you dare disappoint!
I've told you to do to it.
You're not even at risk.
I don't want you held back.
Your success tops my list."
"You mean I can't fail?
You mean I can't fall?
You'll catch me and help me and save me from all?
Over-extended and in over-my-head,
You'll pay all my debts when I'm in the red?"
"Do what you want," the pushy dad said.
"I'll save you with bailouts and keep you well fed."
The pushy parent kept pushing.
"You can't fail.
I won't let you.
Fly high and be free!
No debt you incur will be too much for me!
So the boy did what his pushy parent required.
And he did it with glee.
Promised he'd could never lose, he soared free.
No risk was to risky.
No danger too fearsome.
He went past his ability - and then some.
At high cost to his parent, he pushed beyond limits.
His promised protection had license built in it.
He pushed way beyond reason.
He pushed out beyond right.
What he did with his freedom he hid from the light.
And his pushy parent stopped pushing,
Stopped pushing 'cause he was ashamed,
Ashamed of the mess he'd created,
So he looked 'round for someone to blame.
"I'll do as I please," the boy said without guilt.
And he tore down the family his father had built.
His family imperiled,
Dad realized his folly and feared the demise of his son,
Who in lawlessness reached for the skies.
So he said, "This must end."
And he paid one last payment.
At least, that would have been so,
If his son indulged the agreement.
But a boy so unruly, a boy so inclined,
Who's never been disciplined,
And never been fined for unwise behavior or crossing the line,
Is a boy with no conscience.
So what do you think that boy will do with his father's last bail out?
I know.
So do you.
He'll take it and spend it.
He'll squander that too.
He'll spend it and act like he hasn't a clue.
But wait...
I think he does.
I think maybe he knows more than you and I do!
He's grasped his weak father will never be through.
He'll bail out his boy no matter what's due!
Feeling such shame for pushing his son,
Dear Old Dad hides his eyes from the monster he's made,
He pays to put salve on the guilt he must carry.
He keeps coughing up money so every debt's paid.
But he's made a beast, a boy spoiled rotten,
"I knew you'd pay up. I knew you'd come through.
I'll squander your bailout. I don't care what's due.
I'll take all your money and still cry for more.
I've wrapped you old man.
Now, pick me up off this floor."
And as long as that father bails out his son,
The boy will be soft and weak and undone.
Weak sons have weak fathers,
Who spoil and pamper.
Weak sons are the cause of great pain and ranker.
They think they're entitled.
They live without limits.
And they'll keep taking more as long as we'll give it.
Unfaithful in little,
They want to have much.
But if we give all they ask we're the ones out of touch!
Maybe it's time to stop bailing out bad behavior.
Luke 16:10 - If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
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