Posted by Judi Mosley (207.175.140.100) on August 23, 1999 at 05:50:05:
I have found some of the posts a little upsetting of late, however I refuse to give up, because there are so many wonderful people on the board. I hope you don't mind this longer than average post, that I think a lot of you will like.
There was a small 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 was to hammer a nail in the backyard fence. The 1st day, he had driven in 37 nails. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the nails hammered in daily gradually dwindled. Finally the day came, when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He proudly told his father, who suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed, and the boy was able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father walked to the fence with his son. "You have done well son, but look at all the holes in the fence. It 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 that you are sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are a very rare jewel indeed. They make you smile, and encourage you to succeed, they lend an ear, they share a word of praise, they feel your pain, and they always open their hearts to us".
We are all different - race, sex, religion,personalities, people - but we all suffer from cluster headaches, we are friends, and we can all help each other. Thank you for allowing me the space to give this message...your friend....Judi