FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE PARABLE OF THE FENCE ~ 12 August 2012

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

THE PARABLE OF THE FENCE

Once upon a time there was a little boy who was talented, creative, handsome, and extremely bright...a natural leader. The kind of person everyone would normally have wanted on their team or project. But he was also self-centered and had a very bad temper. When he got angry, he usually said, and often did, some very hurtful things. In fact, he seemed to have little regard for those around him...even friends. So, naturally, he had few. "But," he told himself, "That just shows how stupid most people are!"

As he grew, his parents became concerned about this personality flaw, and pondered long and hard about what they should do. Finally the father had an idea and he struck a bargain with his son. He gave him a bag of nails, and a BIG hammer. "Whenever you lose your temper," he told the boy, "I want you to really let it out. Just take a nail and drive it into the oak boards of that old fence out back. Hit that nail as hard as you can!"

Of course, those weathered oak boards in that old fence were almost as tough as iron, and the hammer was mighty heavy, so it wasn't nearly as easy as it first sounded. Nevertheless, by the end of the first day, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. (That was one angry young man!) Gradually, over a period of weeks, the number dwindled down. Holding his temper proved to be easier than driving nails into the fence! Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He felt mighty proud as he told his parents about that accomplishment.

"As a sign of your success," his father responded, "you get to PULL OUT one nail. In fact, you can do that each day that you don't lose your temper even once."

Well, many weeks passed. Finally one day the young boy was able to report proudly that all the nails were gone.

At that point, the father asked his son to walk out back with him and take one more good look at the fence. "You have done well, my son," he said. "But I want you to notice the holes that are left. No matter what happens from now on, this fence will never be the same. Saying or doing hurtful things in anger produces the same kind of result. There will always be a scar. It won't matter how many times you say you're sorry, or how many years pass, the scar will still be there. And a verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. People are much more valuable than an old fence. They make us smile. They help us succeed. Some will even become friends who share our joys, and support us through bad times. And, if they trust us, they will also open their hearts to us. That means we need to treat everyone with love and respect. We need to prevent as many of those scars as we can."

A most valuable lesson, don't you think? And a reminder most of us need from time to time. Everyone gets angry occasionally. The real test is what we DO with it. Scripture recognizes this when it cautions us, "Be angry and do not sin." (Ephesians 4:26) And an old Hebrew proverb (18:19) reminds us, "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle."

If we are wise, we will spend our time building bridges rather than barriers in our relationships.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

To our Military -

Thank you for protecting us. Sleep well and safe.
May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.

Thank you to our Allies.

**********************************

To those of our Military and Allies who gave their all,
- May your souls rest in peace. May your families be comforted.
May your/our country always remember.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Military Families, for your service to our country.

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[Kathy in Alaska]

Ahhhhh.....a most satisfying day. d:o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Lord's Prayer

[left that other site]

We had a three mile walk this morning, and then we drove around “Yard-saling”,but thunder and lightening prevented any bike rides this afternoon. I had one lesson in the middle of the day, but the bulk of the time was spent trying to straighten out the neck of my student’s guitar. Grrrrrrr.

Tomorrow we have the day off.

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Lord’s Blessings on you and yours, Sand...((HUGS))

Busy day?

[SandRat]

Yep, Mrs SR wanted me too paint two walls of the kitchen to test the color that she selected. Verdict is, I get to get a new color and paint again.

[Kathy in Alaska]

3 miles...good for both of you.

How does one’s guitar neck get “unstraight”?

I love yard sales....haven’t done any this year.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and your family.

The 23rd Psalm

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac, for the Bill of Rights.....they need to be read every day during these troubled times.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our thanks, always, to Capt. John T. Dowd, USA - Korea, 1952, for his service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Two walls?? I guess a sample patch or one wall didn’t show off enough of the effect.

Going lighter or darker? Or a new color entirely?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Shorty GiggleLips & the Canteen Kids – click

[mylife]

Model Church

[mylife]

That was beautiful Kathy

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, my...great song.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and Pooks.

A nice weekend so far? Pooks feeling better?

[mylife]

Pook seems better, he sure enjoyed the belly scratching last night.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks.....I love listening to the little ones sing.

[Kathy in Alaska]

You’re a good Dad.

[mylife]

Well they sing from the heart don’t they?