There once was a young boy with a very bad temper. The boy’s father wanted to teach him a lesson, so he gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into their wooden fence.
On the first day of this lesson, the little boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. He was really mad! Over the course of the next few weeks, the little boy began to control his anger, so the number of nails that were hammered into the fence dramatically decreased.
It wasn’t long before the little boy discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Then, the day finally came when the little boy didn’t lose his temper even once, and he became so proud of himself, he couldn’t wait to tell his father.
Pleased, his father suggested that he now pull out one nail for each day that he could hold his temper. Several weeks went by and the day finally came when the young boy was able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
Very gently, the father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. “You have done very well, my son,” he smiled, “but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same.” The little boy listened carefully as his father continued to speak.
“When you say things in anger, they leave permanent scars just like these. And no matter how many times you say you’re sorry, the wounds will still be there.”
My brother and sister in Christ, anger leaves its mark on our lives and the lives of others. Learning to control anger is an essential tool in life. We read in James 1:19-20: “This you know, my beloved brethren but everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
Proverbs 16:32 says: “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” We also read in Ephesians 4:6-10: “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”
As the end of 2022 is upon is, let us reflect on the people we hurt, let us apologise to them and also forgive those who have hurt us. Let us learn to control our temper, be quick to listen and be slow to talk. Prevention is better than cure!
May you all have a blessed Christmas, and please consider reaching out to those who will be alone and without a meal.
I want to invite you to listen to our online Radio, JTMR Radio, during this season, catch up on some spiritual motivation and inspiration and grow your faith while doing so. Click here to listen or click here to download our Android App. We broadcast the Gospel of Jesus 24/7.
God bless you,
Jaco van As
Founder & Managing Director
