Anger

There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave hima bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, tohammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nailsinto the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it waseasier 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. He toldhis father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull outone nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The dayspassed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all thenails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to thefence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes inthe fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say thingsin anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a manand draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, thewound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage youto succeed. They lend an ear, they share a work of praise, andthey always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how muchyou care.