Fwd: A Little Boy With a Bad Temper

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A Little Boy With a Bad Temper

Author Unknown

Once there was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag

of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a

nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the

fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the

number of nails hammered daily dwindled. He discovered it was easier to hold

his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. His father

then suggested he pull out one nail for each day he that he was able to hold

his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his

father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, " You

have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will

never be the same. When you say things in anger, the leave a scare just like

this. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many

times you say I'm sorry, the wound is there. A verbal wound is as bad as a

physical one. Friends and loved ones are rare jewels. They make us smile,

encourage us to succeed, lend an ear, share words of praise and they open

their hearts to us. They are to be treasured. "

Helen