Once there was a little boy who had a bad temper. Hisfather gave him a bag of nails and told him tohammer a nail into the back of the fence every timehe would lose his temper. The first day the boy haddriven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next fewweeks, as he learned to control his anger, the numberof nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. Hediscovered it was easier to hold his temper than todrive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day camewhen the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told hisfather about it and now the father suggested him topull out one nail for each day that he was able to holdhis temper. The days passed and the young boy wasfinally able to tell his father that all the nails weregone. The father took his son by the hand and led himto the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son,but look at the holes in the fence." The fence willnever be the same. When you say things in anger, theyleave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in aman and draw it out. It won't matter how many timesyou say 'I'm sorry, the wound will still be there.​