Story...

A father has decided it's time to help his son with his temper problem. He gave his son a bag of nails. Everytime when the son throws a temper, he would have to hammer a nail onto the fence at their backyard.

On the first day, the son lost his temper 37 times and hammered 37 nails onto the fence. Gradually, the son grew more conscious about his problem, and the number of nails being hammered on the fence were greatly reduced as days went by.

One day, the son ran to the father and told the father he didn't have to use any nail that day as he hasn't lost his temper! The father held his hand and said "Well done son. Now on the day when you don't lose your temper, you can take 1 nail out". So the son worked really hard to control his temper & his words, he was determined to pull out all the nails from the fence.

That day has finally come! He ran excitedly to the father, brought him to the fence and showed the father that all nails have been removed! The father said, "Well done son...I am so proud of you. Now look at the fence, is the fence the same as before?" The son shook his head and looked up to the father. "Son, when you lost your temper, you said words that are hurtful. Even though you apologised, the wound is still there. The fence will never be the same again with all the holes in it. So remember, when you lost your temper, you are hurting someone."

Lesson well learnt.....

James 1:19 - 20 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about righteous life that God desires.