The Fence

I read this tonight and needed it.  Thought that one of you who have stopped by might too . . .

(I promise for some real, Holt updates soon.  Life has my by the ears right now!)


The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.” You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.

- Author Unknown

Miss Noto

This is a video put together by our beloved kindergarten teacher, Miss Noto.  She has been in Aouth African since June and will be there through January (at least) on a mission trip, teaching 7th grade.  BUt as her blog shows, she is doing so much more than nust teaching these kids.  Her journey is truly amazing and it moves me every time I read it. 

I am in the process of collecting old clothes and shoes to send to her in South Africa.  I feel like it is the least that I can do.  I do not understand why we live in a world where so few of us (myself included) have so very much and so many have so very little.  I know that there is really nothing that I can do to change that or change the reality that is their lives, but if these clothes help a few children stay warm or not have to go barefoot, that is a very small step in the right direction.