There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails
and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in
the back fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then
it 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. It won't matter how many times you
say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
~~~~~~~~~~~

my note: this doesn't just apply to losing your temper or saying things in anger, it applies to gossip and saying mean things in jest to those different from you as well.

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