There's been something on my mind that I've been thinking a lot about lately. It's an issue that I know everyone has experienced some point in life, and is probably still experiencing now, whether you have experienced it through others, or most likely have partaken in many many times yourself. And by it, I am talking about gossip.
Now let me first say that gossip isn't a new concept to me. Growing up, I can recount countless occasions where I have been around it, from the lunchroom gossip about what so-and-so did at school to even in my own home when my mom would return from her daily walk with the other neighborhood moms and indulge the rest of my family with the new up-to-date happenings of our neighbors and their children.
Gossip is funny thing. We all know that it's bad, that's it's hurtful, yet it is so tempting, so easy, to let the words roll off our tongues. I know this from first-hand experience. Unfortunately, many first-hand experiences as of late. Which I guess is why it's been on my mind a lot recently.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. - Ephesians 4:29.
This verse is a piece of wisdom that has spoken a lot of truth to me. Gossip is nothing more than empty words, loud chatter that clutters our mind. Oftentimes we don't realize how much influence our words can have. Instead of using words to break others down, we should be focusing on using them in a way that is empowering. Picking and choosing what comes out of our mouths so that we can harness the power and influence behind our words to build one another up.
I know that this won't be a flip of the switch mentality. I know that it will be difficult and that there will be times when even my own friends will encourage me to gossip, but I want to challenge myself everyday to live my life in a way that I am loving others. So this is my first step.
