The Fence

There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of
nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail
in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the
fence.

Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold
Temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He
Told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out
One nail for each day 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, they leave a scar just like this one. 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 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 you to
succeed.

They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to
Open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to
everyone you consider a FRIEND even if it means sending back to the
person who sent it to you.