Hurtful Looks and Words

I HATE with a passion, (yes I know hate is a very strong word) when people stare or whisper when we are out and about. I also hate the hateful things people say in anger, or when they are purposefully trying to be hurtful. What they don't understand is that even after they are "caught" staring, or "caught" by being overheard, or you are face to face with them when they say the things. That no matter how soon afterwards you apologize (if you've even got the class to do that), those words, looks, etc......they stay, they are burned into your heart and your brain, and they can NEVER be taken back. EVER. You may try to accept the apology, but deep down we know, that is how you really feel, and that is what is SAD. Cause there is nothing we can do, or choose to do to change the person we are. We are good people, and our feelings count too. So for those of you out there who know who you are........here's a little story for you.


The Fence
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper, and was mean. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper or was rude, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven six nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his emotions, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper and snotty comments than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all, and he thought twice before saying mean things. 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 be nice and hold in his anger.
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.


***Maybe you'll learn that before you start calling someone names in anger or say they are mentally "off kilter" you'll think about this little story, and remember that the "I'm sorry" that will follow later, doesn't mean too much to the wound that is left in the heart. And maybe someone else will learn that you don't say things about little boys that did not ask for what is happening to him right now. He didn't mean to be born into these conditions, it isn't his fault. And oh by the way.....if I hear it again that you said what you said.........I won't be so nice as to let you read a little story to understand.