RUMOURS
After several years of marriage Jenny and Peter were still deeply in love. They had two beautiful children, a lovely house in a good neighbourhood, a nice car and with Peter's salary Jenny was able to stay at home and look after the children. They were truly an inspiration to all people. All, but their grumpy, jealous neighbour.
One morning as Peter was leaving the driveway and Jenny blew him a kiss, the neighbour watched in utter jealousy. She needed to stop this happiness. An hour later she met a friend for tea. This friend loved to gossip and the grumpy neighbour decided to use this friend of her as a tool. "Did you hear about Peter and his affair..." she started. After a while she ended: "Poor Jenny and the kids... if only they knew."
Needless to say, the gossip story spread like a wildfire throughout the community. The women's smiles towards Jenny turned into pity-stares. One day while shopping in the local supermarket a shopper approached Jenny to tell her about the gossip story: "Is it true that your husband is having an affair?" In an instant, Jenny's "perfect life" was crushed.
For the next few days Jenny cried continuously as she tried to hide her hurt from Peter. Depression started to consume Jenny's life as the joy was squashed from her body.
One night as Peter drove into the driveway he saw that none of the house lights were on. "Hello, I'm home..." No answer. No aromatic food scent met him as he walked into the home. No smiling faces as his wife and children ran towards him. Everything was dark and cold. An evil feeling surrounded the house.
In the basement of the house Peter made the shocking discovery. Jenny had hung herself and the kids. The depression had taken its toll. On the table Peter found the suicide note: "I couldn't endure the shame and disgrace of your actions anymore. Now you are free to do whatever you want to..." Two days later Peter heard about the lie that shattered his life.
This story made me realize how easy a gossip story can destroy a life.
"What dainty morsels rumours are - but they sink deep into one's heart"
Proverbs 18:8
"Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life."
Proverbs 18:21
Proverbs 18:8
"Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life."
Proverbs 18:21
What is your reaction whenever you hear a gossip story? Do you delight yourself in it - especially if it involves your enemies? Or do you decide to stop it and rather say something positive about the person? Can I encourage you today to change the gossip story into an uplifting, positive story? You might just save a life.
Father God, thank you that I can ask You to place a guard in front of my mouth. Help me to speak positive words about the people around me. I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
**this story is extracted from Spiritual Food
I know that sometime is very hard for us to draw a line between rumours and just sharing our thoughts with people. However, what does it really mean to not gossip? A friend shared that, if is not her story to tell then she will not talk bout it. I strongly agree with her, but what if you wanted to know how that person is doing but did not got the chance to talk to them? Is it wrong to just care bout the person? my suggestion is that if you genuinely care for that person, take actions to it by talking to the person personally instead of asking others, and not just for the sake of knowing.
ps: I find that silent treatment is the best option to counter gossips in a group =) hope that helps!
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