Once upon a time, there was a boy with a very bad temper. His father wanted to teach him a lesson. So one day, the father gave his son a bag of nails and told him, “Every time you lose your temper or say something hurtful, I want you to hammer a nail into that wooden fence post in the backyard.”
The first day, the boy drove 37 nails into the post. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails he hammered each day began to dwindle. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to keep pounding nails into that post.
Eventually, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. Proudly, he told his father.
His father smiled and said: “Great job. Now, for every day you keep your cool and don’t say something hurtful, I want you to pull out one nail.”
Days passed, and slowly the boy removed each nail from the fence post. Finally, he was able to tell his father the job was done.
The father led his son to the fence and said, “You’ve done well but look at the holes in the post. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar, just like these holes. Even if you apologize, the wound is still there.”
Moral of the story.
Words can hurt. Angry outbursts and hurtful comments may be forgiven, but the emotional scars they leave behind can remain forever. Choose your words carefully. Once they’re spoken, they can’t be taken back.
Additional points from this illustration:
- Think before you speak. Words are like arrows—once released, they can’t be pulled back. Take a moment to pause before reacting in anger. A calm response protects your relationships and your character.
- An apology doesn’t always erase the damage. Even if someone forgives you, your words may leave a mark that lingers. Don’t rely on “sorry” to fix what could have been avoided. Prevention is wiser than repair.
- Your words carry weight—use them to lift, not tear down. You can build people up with encouragement or break them down with cruelty. Choose to be a source of strength, not sorrow.
- Anger is temporary—but its impact can be permanent. In the heat of the moment, you may say something you don’t mean. But the person on the receiving end may remember it for years. Let patience guide your tongue.
- Respect is shown not just in actions, but in speech. How you speak to people, especially when you’re upset, shows your true values. Let your words reflect kindness, even when it’s hard.