"What Happened?"

Sometimes when something happens,

And the news is flying round,

The question is which version,

If truth in fact you’ve found.

Some act as if they know it,

But really they don’t know,

It’s based on second hear-say,

And the wind that people blow.

So be careful of the gossip,

You thought you’d pass along,

Cause even if it sounds right,

You could be dead wrong.

And after all the damage,

Has done all it can do,

You can say you’re sorry,

But better if you knew,

That when you hear the story,

You might just stop and pray,

Instead of joining with it,

You ought to let it lay.

You might need some mercy,

For something you will do,

So maybe think about it,

Fore your foot’s in the shoe.

“…quarrels disappear when gossip stops…” (Prov. 26:20, NLT)

Gossip is an inviting temptation. Just something about it that draws people in. But this scripture and others warn against it. If you have discovered that someone has a problem, there may be no need to discuss it with anyone. More times than not we ought to simply pray for that person. Sometimes we are in a position where we have to talk about someone’s problem because we are called upon to help them or someone they have hurt. Even then we should proceed with extreme caution. Words have the power of life or death, and we want to be sure we’re spreading life. Not just some of the time, but all the time.

Lord, deliver us from gossip, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Anton, billantonstudios.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Bill, and God bless you.