The Nails in the Fence

Once upon a time, there was a boy with very little self-control. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him:
“Each time you lose your temper, hammer a nail into the back of the fence.”On the first day, the boy hammered 37 nails into the fence. 

But over the next few weeks, he learned to control his anger. Gradually, the number of nails he drove into the fence began to decrease. He discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to hammer those nails.Eventually, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father the good news.
His father then said: “Now, for every day you stay calm and in control, you may pull one nail out of the fence.”Days passed. Finally, the young boy could tell his father:
“All the nails are gone.” The father took his son by the hand and walked with him to the fence. He said:
“You’ve done well, my son. But look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same again.” 

“When you say things in anger, they leave scars just like these holes.
You may stab someone with a knife, and even if you pull it out, the wound is still there. It doesn’t matter how many times you say ‘I’m sorry’ the scar remains.”

Reflection

Once something is said in anger, it can’t be taken back not really. Even when we apologize, the hurt may still remain. Like nails pulled from wood, the holes are the silent reminder. This story teaches us that self-control is not just about staying calm it’s about protecting others from our unfiltered emotions. Words can heal or harm. Once spoken, they live on. So before you speak in anger, ask yourself:

"Do I want to drive this nail into someone’s heart?"

Because even forgiveness can’t always erase the wound. Control your anger, not the people around you. That’s real strength.