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 fence (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. “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
Another great story from this site! Though I’m not that hot temper type like in the story, but it adds me constructively to be calm at all times.. Yes I have sometimes a situation where in people done very irritable things to me but then I stayed calm. Don’t know why, I just always remember that there’s no good things you can get from being mad or hot tempered..
Thumbs up to this story.
This story is true in my life. I have hurt my girlfriend. I am trying to pull the nails but I am sad that the holes will remain forever.
I wish the father taught him the lesson when the boy was small. I am sure the signs were there way before, still the lesson was very valuable not just for the boy but to all. Thanks.
I really like the story. You can view the story in many ways. The other view is what I encountered right now. I am in the state of controlling my temper because there are people that trying to pull me down. I always ignoring them because I know that my conscience is clean. It’s up to them if they want to live life full of negativity. I believe that whoever encounters like this is the one who progress and happy.
Superb…
Who is the author of this wonderful story?
Words can be like knives.. so always be careful with your words.
Really itz inspirable….. and the story is very nice…..
Thank you….
Nice story.
Very nice story….:) 🙂 🙂 🙂
It’s a very nice story. It will help me to control my anger.
The story really touched my heart when I read it. I’m the type that easily gets angry, I srongly believe that I’ve learnt something from it, thanks a lot.
This is a good moral story and so helpful. It will make me calm when I am stressed up and suppossed to make major decisions.
Regards
Very nice story.
I like the story very much! It is related to the profession that I chose. As a teacher, I should control my temper because if not, what my tongue said would leave to students forever. Hope other teachers would read this!
The same problem happens with me as like the boy in the story.
Anger is a wind how stops the lamp of the brain.
It is much needy to build nice human
Leaders should read this story. It helps to control your emotions in difficult times.
This story is very intresting …..
It is very inspirational and motivational story. Such story leads us to control our anger.
good
Great story indeed…
Great story… keep up the good work.
Its a beautiful story… i am posting it on my page collection from a heart to heart ^_^ hope it will be able to change some people if not all… thank you
Mind blowing story!!!!!
Great! Nice way to teach the kids… really interesting. Love it!!!
So true….
Few words with big meaning…
I like the story which is very important for todays teenagers …..
Anger indeed takes it all….! It is better to control anger before it is too late. Nice story.. 🙂
It’s really a good story! Awesome
Wonderful, Awesome
really i should try it
😛
Nice story………..
Nice story.. Too much Control of temper sometimes leads to Fear in future
Superb story. I will always remember this story in my life and try to control my temper.
Sure, this story has actually opened my eyes to the truth about anger, sorry doesn’t cure all wounds caused by anger so i have to keep that anger in check when next it comes around me. Thanks a bunch for this.
Yeh……….
Gud one.
Anger is a one thing which we should have control on it. We should not allow anger to control ourselves.
Very nice story I liked that very much
yeah, me too… I’d also relate on these story I am hot temper kind of person also. thankz to the person who uploaded this story. 🙂
One should read this and try it out. It really works!.
This short story is very inspirational. These are the kind of stories that people must have time to read and reflect. Because we are too busy with our career and work that we somehow tend to forget that we still need to meditate among ourselves and continue learning by reading such as this.
This is the website I am using to get inspiration stories for a news letter where I currently am working as a Training Officer and it helps a lot……..
Cheers.
I like this story and I believe those who read will learn a lesson from it. God bless the writer.
Excellent Exotic monsoon story!
The story was really nice…. I like it 🙂
This is a very nice story, I hope my daughter will get prize in a story telling competition. I have choosen this story. It helps not only kids but also elders. Thank you very much for giving us such a nice story.
Nice message to others to bring change in life…
This story was amazing…………………….. and fantastic.
So nice…
God bless you…
Hello……I read your story….I really very nice…..Thanks a lot for giving us a wonderful knowledge……:)
Really Good story…..
Amazing ……really very good one……
niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Simply too good!!! It is all the way related to me, I am very short tempered…!!! I will surely try to implement this.
These short story will definately help us to control our nerve . may many people read and implement it
Really wonderful somewhat it relates to me also as i am very bad tempered, but this story has somewhat made me think to change myself.
Nicely narrated story to arrive at a teaching which helps growing children to remember not to lose temper at any time of their life. Calmness and politeness reward suitable gifts to them.
So true and practical !!
Really a good one. I will narrate it to my students today in school.
The impression we create today tells more about who we are and our being reasonable to adapt to good morals goes a long way to make us men and women of great value. I am happy to have come across this site
Look before you leap. I personally never get angry.
it was realy nice and very meaning full one.
I have no words to say thanks to u, I have this problem of saying rubbish during my anger outburst and off course I regret and remorse later but it does not save me to repeat it again when triggered. I will remember this story always. God bless.
I like the story very much as I too loose temper very easily and I am damn sure dat people who read it once will defenitely come wid fruitful results in controlling their temper. Thanks a lot!!!
It is very good story! But it is so hard to change a temper when the stupid neighbour from the lower floor is smoking.
Very true~ =’C
The story is simply superb. I recommend readers to take in the complete value that the story focuses and practice it everyday.
Simply superb
I like the story very much as students we must control our temper in front of our teachers and as high leaders of school too.
Actually, i think this story is connected to me bcos i m very hot temper. I must try this nail-fence way. May b i control myself.
This story is very apt and relevant to everyday living. Every human being needs to read it and adhere to its message of self control when we are angry as it will make the world a beautiful place to live in.
This story is a fantastic way to explain how things said in anger can leave their mark just as much as a kick or punch. Working with children everyday is full of situations that require tales just like this.
I like the story very much! It is related to the profession that I chose. As a teacher, I should control my temper because if not, what my tongue said would leave to students forever. Hope other teachers would read this!