A Boy, His temper, and the Fence Post
attributed to www.inspirationalstories.eu Adapted by Leopold Llonch
There was once a very smart and talented boy who had a quick temper. His temper was so difficult that nobody wanted to be his friend. He often got angry and said hurtful things to people around him, including his family and friends.
The boy’s parents were concerned and talked about how they could help him with his temper. So, his father gave him a hammer and a bag of nails, and told him “every time you get angry, take a nail and drive it into that old fence post as hard as you can.”
The fence post was very tough and the hammer was heavy, nevertheless the boy was so furious that during the very first day he hammered 37 nails into the fence post.
Days, then weeks passed, and the number of nails was gradually decreasing. The boy understood that holding his temper is easier that driving nails into the fence post.
One day the boy didn‘t need the hammer and nails anymore as he learned to hold his temper. So he told his father about his proud achievement. His father then told him, “now every time you hold your temper for an entire day, pull out one nail “.
After much time had passed and all the nails were removed from the fence post, the boy asked his father to come and take a careful look at his success.
His dad told him “you did a good job, my son, now pay attention to the holes that were left from the nails that you removed. The fence post will never be the same.
The same thing happens when you say hurtful things to people, as your words leave scars like the holes in the fence post. Remember to treat everyone with love and respect because even if you say you’re sorry, sometimes the scars will not disappear.
“Treat every person you talk to as if they’re the most important person in the world. And as you greet them and listen to them, smile and keep positive and happy thoughts and you’ll see miracles happen when you least expect them”
Make it a Great Day!