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Temper control

Once upon a time there was a little boy who was talented, creative, handsome, and extremely bright. A natural leader. The kind of person everyone would normally have wanted on their team or project. But he was also self-centered and had a very bad temper. When he got angry, he usually said, and often did, some very hurtful things. In fact, he seemed to have little regard for those around him. Even friends. So, naturally, he had few. “But,” he told himself, “that just shows how stupid most people are!”

As he grew, his parents became concerned about this personality flaw, and pondered long and hard about what they should do. Finally, the father had an idea. And he struck a bargain with his son. He gave him a bag of nails, and a BIG hammer. “Whenever you lose your temper,” he told the boy, “I want you to really let it out. Just take a nail and drive it into the oak boards of that old fence out back. Hit that nail as hard as you can!”

Of course, those weathered oak boards in that old fence were almost as tough as iron, and the hammer was mighty heavy, so it wasn’t nearly as easy as it first sounded. Nevertheless, by the end of the first day, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fenceΒ (That was one angry young man!). Gradually, over a period of weeks, the number dwindled down. Holding his temper proved to be easier than driving nails into the fence! Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He felt mighty proud as he told his parents about that accomplishment.

“As a sign of your success,” his father responded, “you get to PULL OUT one nail. In fact, you can do that each day that you don’t lose your temper even once.”

Well, many weeks passed. Finally one day the young boy was able to report proudly that all the nails were gone.

At that point, the father asked his son to walk out back with him and take one more good look at the fence. “You have done well, my son,” he said.Β “But I want you to notice the holes that are left. No matter what happens from now on, this fence will never be the same. Saying or doing hurtful things in anger produces the same kind of result. There will always be a scar. It won’t matter how many times you say you’re sorry, or how many years pass, the scar will still be there. And a verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. People are much more valuable than an old fence. They make us smile. They help us succeed. Some will even become friends who share our joys, and support us through bad times. And, if they trust us, they will also open their hearts to us. That means we need to treat everyone with love and respect. We need to prevent as many of those scars as we can.”

A most valuable lesson, don’t you think? And a reminder most of us need from time to time. Everyone gets angry occasionally. The real test is what we DO with it.

If we are wise, we will spend our time building bridges rather than barriers in our relationships.

Author Unknown

{ 130 comments… add one }
  • Arpitha. April 16, 2021, 2:17 am

    Wow, What a good message.. thank you so much
    yesterday I made mistake , even I lose my Temper with my parents … i said nonsense things to my parents , I am feeling very guilty still but I learn a lesson guys that I made a very big mistake and I am not supposed to do this again , i need to control my Temper.

    • Bhavyam Arora May 4, 2021, 12:35 pm

      πŸ‘πŸ™…I am very glad to know that you have realised your mistake…

  • Abdul March 29, 2020, 10:46 am

    For real its educative…and also I really have to share this with my friends

  • Ragini kapoor January 10, 2020, 9:56 am

    So good story??????????

    • Abdul March 29, 2020, 10:44 am

      For real its educative

  • Anna Bella March 18, 2019, 11:25 am

    Av read it before from storybook

  • Ovoh joseph February 24, 2018, 4:45 am

    I really love this story because whenever i get angry i read this story and it really inspire me

  • Lakhvinder Singh Maan November 12, 2017, 10:58 am

    Wonderful.. Very motivational n inspiring story.
    Its showing the reality of the era due to overburden..

  • Mr B Pogona May 6, 2017, 9:31 am

    Teachers, parents and guidians let’s not give up on these bad tempered kids but try as much as possible help them out…

  • Sonam January 13, 2017, 3:24 am

    The best story for angry person..It’s gave to best inspiration for our life..I like that….

  • Aaisha September 25, 2016, 6:02 am

    Thanks this story helps me a lot

  • anbu.v September 6, 2016, 3:49 pm

    Simply superb….

  • Ankit mishra May 19, 2016, 2:04 pm

    I will try.. I am also very hot tempered person.. because of temper I have lost many things in my life..

  • Sachin varma March 28, 2016, 3:37 am

    Stories giving a great thinking

  • Tashmika February 18, 2016, 12:39 pm

    This is a wonderful story … love it a lot and also it describes what many of us do!

  • Isbella September 29, 2015, 1:45 pm

    This is a really good story it will teach others.

  • Samuel April 14, 2015, 6:05 am

    Wow its very nice i appreciate wat u have done

  • Pema Reki March 6, 2015, 1:10 am

    I really liked this story as it is related to my profession and my attitude too. From onwards i will try to be well tempered even though i have shown my ill tempered to my friends.

  • Inga August 21, 2014, 5:41 am

    I like the story very nice πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

  • C. J. Kuunang July 4, 2014, 11:47 am

    Excellent!!! Thanks for your inspiration

  • Elenin March 5, 2014, 9:10 am

    This helped me a lot as a hot headed person.

  • Baleleng January 23, 2014, 1:05 am

    Relate much… :’)
    Thanks to Jesus

  • JASPAL PANESAR December 12, 2013, 6:38 am

    I heard this story 3 years back. Since then I have narrated this story to so many friends, relatives and children. I hope this must have left good impression on them.

  • Sudeer November 22, 2013, 3:15 pm

    I am the boy in this story. Thanks for the solution.

  • Manueljaime8 November 17, 2013, 11:11 pm

    It’s a story worth sharing to friends.

  • Deepali October 14, 2013, 9:56 am

    Superb… Brilliant … Best story ever heard.

  • Gupta Kamal Alg September 19, 2013, 4:46 am

    Very good lesson for teens.

  • Deepak September 16, 2013, 9:57 am

    Wonderful! I love it!

  • Paranthaman.R September 11, 2013, 11:57 pm

    It is a good story for me. I won’t scare anybody.

  • Trevor August 4, 2013, 4:58 am

    Nice. I am very inspired by your story. I was once a hot tempered boy but now I am very patient. This story is perfect for other kids like me.

  • David July 28, 2013, 12:41 am

    This is a masterpiece! Very creative, well narrated and driving the point home. It leaves no scars man, but you’ll never be the same again. Muchas Gracias!

  • Ankul July 13, 2013, 7:05 am

    Really nice story, hope that I can resolve any relationship conflict that has taken a toll on my life.

  • Shital July 12, 2013, 2:06 am

    Wonderful…..thanks !

  • Sam May 5, 2013, 2:18 am

    Love πŸ™‚

  • Bhat Imran April 23, 2013, 1:16 pm

    I liked it!! Really nice. Great to read this story as I too loose my temper at occasions.

  • Jinukrishnan April 17, 2013, 3:18 pm

    Awesome…….

  • Tanisha Shree April 13, 2013, 9:29 am

    I was needing a nice and moralfull story and I got it. It is a very good story for my school assembly. Thank you.

  • Nilam Jadhav April 12, 2013, 2:00 am

    Nice story

  • Subrat April 11, 2013, 12:46 pm

    Heart touching …

  • Chandra February 17, 2013, 9:10 am

    It is a nice story…

  • Appiah February 6, 2013, 8:05 pm

    I’ve learnt a good lesson from dis piece. Keep de good work up. Thanks.

  • Areeba Qasim February 3, 2013, 10:28 am

    Nice, great, awesome story. There are some people in the world who r not having control on themselves which sometimes lead to violence….so be-careful while acting like this…because this type of behaviour will not give you success ever in your life!!!!

  • Devi January 23, 2013, 2:27 pm

    Please can anyone explain the following lines in simple way? I could not understand.

    “”Just take a nail and drive it into the oak boards of that old fence out back. Hit that nail as hard as you can!”

    Of course, those weathered oak boards in that old fence were almost as tough as iron, and the hammer was mighty heavy, so it wasn’t nearly as easy as it first sounded. Nevertheless, by the end of the first day, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.””

  • Bhaskar January 22, 2013, 4:10 am

    That was a very good story, I need to look deep into me, to love and to respect all.

  • Asu January 20, 2013, 12:01 pm

    Thnks a ton for such a gud morale story..hpe this remain always in my brain..nd whenevr i get angry..hpe this gud story comes in front of my anger….God bless

  • Padma Priya A January 13, 2013, 9:33 am

    Wonderful story to convey message among children— how to control their anger!!!

  • Peter Ouma - Kenya January 9, 2013, 8:14 am

    Brilliant, oh brilliant.

  • Sachin Kudalkar December 26, 2012, 9:04 am

    Very nice story

  • Sahil December 18, 2012, 9:06 am

    I learned a good lesson of life. So be calm and don’t become anger too quick.

  • Sophia December 10, 2012, 7:32 pm

    It is so very amazing and I have learned a lesson today, don’t have bad temper for a simple problem.

  • Kanha December 10, 2012, 2:09 pm

    I am a regular reader of your website. I like many more stories but this story was fantastic… and I love most stories about goals… This site is amazing. Thanks to everyone.

  • Grace December 10, 2012, 9:28 am

    It’s a wonderful story. And evryone has to control our angry and realise once, it may hurt some one feeling so badly that never again can be same. Think twice, because it may spoil a good relationship.

    Thanks

  • Harsimran kaur December 1, 2012, 2:16 pm

    I found this very inspirational to reduce my anger as well

  • Sakshi Takale November 21, 2012, 8:23 am

    Superb story….we don’t get anything for being angry. It’s true we should control our temper…

  • Harry November 18, 2012, 5:23 pm

    Truly this is a nice and touching story to me bcus I used to be like dat boy but I thank God for his grace I was able to control my temper now, more grease to ur elbow.

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