It bothers me and deeply offends me when I hear that someone has talked about me behind my back. But I must confess that I’ve been a part of plenty of those conversations, too. You know the drill, one minute you’re sipping coffee talking about kids, and the next minute, you’re slamming a mutual friend over what she chose to wear to church on Sunday…”Bless her heart.” Next someone chimes in about the way she disciplines her children…”I’d never…!” Finally, an inadvertent comment about her less-than-perfect past…”Gasp! Oh my gosh!” And the damage is done.
It reminds me of the BP oil spill in the gulf. Gossip is explosive. It comes gushing from deep in your heart and once it flows, it’s not easily capped. Then it spreads. It gets deeper, and thicker, becoming harder to contain. The cost is severe, the damage is irreversible, and try as you may to clean it up, there are still residual effects.
I’ve resolved (several times over I might add—hey, I’m not perfect) to stay away from gossip, however trivial. I’m challenging you to do the same! Strive for more positive conversations in your friendship circles. Challenge each other to be better, and to see better in other people. And let me know how it goes.
When gossip inevitably tempts you, keep this proverb close to your heart: “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” Proverbs 18:8
