“When a fire finishes burning through the material it feeds on, it goes out. Similarly, when gossip reaches the ear of someone who will not repeat it, it dies.

Gossip like other sins, is like “tasty trifles” (Proverbs 26:22). We like to heat it and share it with others because it “tastes good”. Gossip is rooted in our need to feel good about ourselves. As we bring others down, we gain the illusion that we are moving upward.

That’s why spreading gossip is so difficult to resist. It takes prayer and God’s grace to bring us to the point where we refuse to pass it on or even hear it – even under the guise of personal concern or a request to pray for a sinning friend in trouble.

We must ask God for the wisdom to know when to speak, what to speak and when to simply keep our mouth shut. For ” in multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).

It is often wise to be quiet and speak few words. But if we must speak, let’s talk of those things that encourage and move others closer to God, not those things that will discourage and hurt them.

“The tongue of the wise promotes health.” (Proverbs 12:18)

I took this from today’s reading in Our Daily Bread 2007 … which really struck me that I had to pause and think back what my thoughts were, what has come out of my mouth the past days or weeks. No, let me rephrase that, I should say… what’s been coming out of my mouth on a daily basis.

I wrote this to remind myself that I don’t need to gossip to feel good about me, cos let’s face it, we do feel good about us when we gossip, right? Oh c’mon, if you’re honest, you’ll nod your head in this one. Thus today’s reading is a good reminder to me (and I think to those who will read this.)

I simply am guilty of gossiping from time to time. My husband would often tease me whenever my voice changes (it’s tone) when I’m on the phone talking to a friend or chatting online – he’d say “ah, you’re gossiping again, eh?” Husband says that I’ve a gossiping voice. Horrible, isn’t it?

I think everybody is guilty of this. Women, men (oh, don’t you find it funny when men are gossiping?) young and old. To be honest, this is one sin that I am most afraid of because of its nasty way of getting back at you, that when it happens, you don’t know what hit you. Does it always boomerang? I say, almost always. That’s the law of karma.

So what am I to do? —–> :-| I guess there’s no other way. It’s hard to do but doable. I don’t get a kick from hurting other people’s feelings. I really should check my tongue and thoughts before I utter a word. Because I want to have that really good feeling about myself, that I’m not just illussioning about it.

Share