FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ The Parable of The Fence ~ 09 December 2018

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[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]

God Bless our military men and women who have given their all.

Thanks, unique.

[luvie]

Howdy, radu! How was your day? Is it cold and nasty there, too? Hope you didn’t have to get out for anything if it was.

Hubby said we got about 1/2” of rain, so that’s a plus! Still pretty cold, though.

[luvie]

I am staying warm by not going out. LOL! Well...except to feed the kittehs and tomorrow for church. Thank goodness there was no reason to get out.

How are things there? Are you finally getting some decent snow?

[radu]

Howdy, LUV!

Not too cold but VERY wet here. Constant rain - mostly light but sometimes a little heavier - and there was 1.5 inch in the gauge when I checked it a short time ago. We’re in a lull now but more is on the way.
Snow in NC and AR, sleet across north TN, and we’re fortunate enough to have just rain.
I’ve only stepped outside once and that was to check the gauge. LOL

Glad you got some rain out of the deal though I reckon the kittehs aren’t too happy about it. Bad enough it being cold but wet on top of it is the pits for them.

[luvie]

Wow! You got a lot of rain! Maybe it’ll dry out soon. I have forgotten to check DH to see if it’s snowing there. It wasn’t this morning.

Ah, those kitties have lots of nice warm spots to get out of the rain and I think the only thing that brings them out is food. Then they disappear *poof*. :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[Kathy in Alaska]

Left on my errands forgetting about the rain. Sweatshirt got damp, but not bad. Temps dropping enough in the last couple hours to turn the rain to really, really wet snow....not even an inch.

Glad I don’t have to go out tomorrow.

Sure happy you are warm enough to prevent ice.

I’m hoping this WET AND HEAVY snow doesn’t ice the power lines. They’ve already been having issues with the internet.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Sunday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

How's everyone this morning?

[radu]

If it had rained hard all day, we’d be in a swamp tonight. Fortunately, it’s primarily been light rain.
The DH cam #1 went down this afternoon, as it does too often, but cam #2 is working. It’s sleeting up there and has been for a little while. :-(

You do have everything set up for the kittehs to stay warm and dry but you know they’d rather be out hunting and playing. :-)

[radu]

I gather it wasn’t raining when you headed out. I hope you didn’t get chilled by your damp sweatshirt. Do NOT want you getting sick!

EEK on the wet heavy snow! Don’t need the powerlines getting knocked down by the weight or by tree limbs crashing down on them.

I’ve been checking the radar periodically to keep an eye on where it’s sleeting since my brother lives in the northern part of TN. So far, so good, they just have rain. They have ice storms up there more often than we do and I hope they can get through this weekend without one.

Tomorrow night into Monday morning is when we’ll get some frozen stuff. It’ll be nice if it’s snow rather than sleet or freezing rain because we’d like to get through this storm without an ice storm too!

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Did you get through the day without any snow? I reckon it wasn’t a very good day for a romp at the lake with Gizmo.

Just VERY wet here and warm enough it’s just rain ..... so far.

[luvie]

Well, if they want to be wet and cold, then they can get out and play. Plenty of time for that. it’ll be dry before ya know it. LOL

EEK! I just looked at the clock. I’m going to be sooooo sorry when that alarm goes off in the morning. See ya tomorrow night! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

YIKES! You have some worry time coming.

Hope you are able to stay mostly above freezing, but if not, hope you get snow and not ice.

And no ice storms for your brother.

[radu]

Like they want to play bad enough to get wet and cold. LOL
Just have to settle for being bored until it’s dry. :-)

You did stay up a bit late tonight. Gonna hurt when the alarm goes off in the morning. Drink lotsa caffeine before heading out to church!

[E.G.C.]

Rain with no freezing temps. We did get some lake time yesterday.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Rained off and on til late afternoon. Then within an hour we started getting light, wet, and heavy snow. Maybe a half inch I shoveled off the deck when I fed the ducks. Just went to turn off the deck lights and there is maybe another half inch...I’ll take care of it in the morning.

Every time we get snow it warms up and rains. d:o(

Continue to stay warm.

[radu]

We’ll be ok between now and then, at least. And the way they showed it, we won’t get a lot of the frozen stuff. This system will be almost out of here by the time it gets that cold and it’ll be scattered showers rather than solid like it’s been today. We should be ok but I don’t know how lucky my brother will be. For now he’s in the “warm” pocket like we are.

I hope your wet snow has stopped by now.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...hope you and Gizmo were able to dodge the raindrops and get out to play.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

You boys have a fun Sunday.

[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]

The Lord's Prayer