The Power of the Bent Nail
By: Joselito Cepada Jr.

Dodong

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled amidst rolling hills, there lived a father named Joe and his young and arrogant son, James. Joe was known for his wisdom and kind heart, while James' pride often got the better of him. Despite their differences, Joe loved his son dearly and sought to guide him on the right path.

One sunny afternoon, as Joe sat in his garden repairing a wooden fence, James approached with a disdainful look upon his face. He sneered at his father's humble task and remarked, "Father, why waste your time fixing this old fence? It's a useless chore."

Joe smiled patiently and replied, "My son, this fence represents more than just a physical barrier. It symbolizes relationships and the importance of maintaining them. Just as this fence protects and defines our property, our actions and words can either build or destroy the bonds we share with others."

James scoffed, thinking his father's words were mere ramblings. Unbeknownst to him, Joe had a plan to teach his son a valuable lesson.

The next day, Joe handed James a hammer and a rusty nail, pointing toward the same fence. "Son, I want you to drive this nail into the fence every time you lose your temper or let anger consume you," he instructed.

Confused but intrigued, James agreed to his father's request. Over the following weeks, James found himself hammering nails into the fence whenever anger overtook him. At first, the nails were easily hammered in, but as days turned into weeks, James noticed something peculiar.

The more he hammered nails into the fence, the more frustrated he became. The nails bent, some even broke, leaving unsightly marks on the once pristine wood. Yet, despite the damage, Joe never scolded or reprimanded his son.

One day, James approached his father with a remorseful expression. "Father, I've realized the error of my ways," he confessed. "My anger has caused irreparable damage, just like these bent nails."

Joe smiled gently and replied, "Son, the nails on the fence represent the wounds we inflict upon others when we let anger control us. No matter how many times you apologize or try to fix things, the scars will always remain. But take a closer look."

James examined the fence and noticed something remarkable. Although the nails had left visible marks, the wood remained intact. It was resilient and still served its purpose.

Joe continued, "Just like this fence, relationships may bear the weight of our anger, but they can withstand the test of time if we learn to manage our emotions. Anger can ruin lives, but it's never too late to change."

From that day forward, James committed himself to self-improvement. He worked diligently on his anger management, striving to become a better person. As time went on, the fence became a reminder of the power of his own choices and the importance of treating others with kindness and understanding.

The moral of the story is that anger, if left uncontrolled, can cause irreversible damage to our relationships. By learning to manage our anger, we can prevent unnecessary harm and create stronger, more fulfilling connections with those around us.

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