InspirEmail

InspirEmail No 303 - May 2016 - The nails in the fence
'Inspirational messages to refresh the spirit and boost the emotional bank account'

The nails in the fence

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

Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his 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've 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 and a verbal wound is just as bad as a physical one.'

Author Unknown
With many thanks to my good friend and colleague Brad Jobe for sharing this story.


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Invest in kindness

A snide remark gains you nothing, yet costs you much. A selfish act brings no lasting value, yet it attracts the enduring resentment of others. A kind word, on the other hand, costs you nothing. And it can bring about a lifetime of value. What if, just once each day, you were to stop yourself before making a cruel remark and replace it with a sincere word of encouragement?

Such a thing would cost you absolutely nothing, and yet it would bring real, positive value to your life and your world. Cruelty is a waste of precious time and energy. Kindness is an investment which pays endless dividends.

If you desire a life of value, then do the things which bring true value, as often as you can. Fill your moments with kindness.

Written by Ralph S. Marston, Jr
Source Living the Wonder of It All and to buy a copy of the book please visit . . . Great Day >>>

- Inspirational Quote -

For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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A monthly positive inspirational story and quote to refresh your spirit and boost the emotional bank account. InspirEmail was first published in November 2005 and each issue can be viewed in the Archived InspirEmail Directory located below the latest issue of InspirEmail


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