"If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." - Alice Roosevelt, President Teddy Roosevelt's daughter
"He who gossips with you will also gossip about you."- An old Irish proverb
"Gossiping isn't just a personality trait. It is a sin."
In Scripture, the word sin was originally used by archers of arrows that "missed the mark". Anything other than dead center bull's-eye is sin. Romans 1:29-32 lists many sins, such as murder and envy but it also mentions gossiping with them.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me? No! Bruises fade and bones heal, but a scorched heart may take years to mend.
It has been said that gossip is saying something behind someone's back that you would never dare say to the person's face. However, flattery is almost the opposite. It is saying something to someone's face that you would probably never say behind his or her back.
So.....what do we do to stop gossiping?
- Adopt the revers Nike slogan: "Just DON'T do it!"
- Know when to eat your words and admit your fault (see Proverbs 6:1-5)
- Make a promise to yourself and to others
- Remember, the closest exit may be somewhere behind you.
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