Nails In The Fence

It is so easy to lose our temper and say things we shouldn't have. It is not easy to keep quiet when we are angry, nevertheless this is what we should always do. Once it is said there is no taking it back. We can say we are sorry and the person may forgive us but the hurt and the scar is still there.

I remember several years ago when Dave and I went to the store I said something to him and by the look on his face I knew I had hurt him. I was so angry that I didn't even tell him I was sorry until much later. Even though I was angry I knew I shouldn't have said it and when I didn't say I was sorry it even made it much worse. I know the Holy Spirit was talking to me but I had to get over my anger, so I thought.  We should never wait when the Holy Spirit speaks to us. I am so thankful that I finally listen to the Spirit speaking to me even though it was four or five hours later when I finally told Dave I was sorry.

Proverbs 15:18; "A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife".

James 1:19; "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath":

If I would have been slow to anger and slow to speak, feelings would not have been hurt and I wouldn't have hurt Dave so bad and I would not have felt so bad for what I said. I hurt him and it wasn't necessary. I praise the Lord the Holy Spirit dealt with me and that I listened to Him even if it took awhile.

I received the following the other day and it is such a good illustration of anger and what it does. I hope you enjoy it.

Nails In The Fence

There 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 have 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 but the hole is still there.

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No matter how many times you say "I'm sorry", the wound will still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. The best thing to do is not to say anything. If you get angry, don't take the chance of hurting someone and leaving a scar in their heart by hateful words. It is worth working on every single time you feel yourself getting angry.

May you always know the love, joy, and peace of the Lord!