Three pastors are talking when the first pastor said, “I must confess. I have a gambling problem. All the church money going missing was my doing.”
The second pastor said, “Well, since we’re confessing, I’m addicted to alcohol.”
The third pastor was very quiet.
The second pastor asked the third one, “Don’t you have anything to say?”
“We’ll, I’m so addicted to gossip and I can’t wait to get off this boat.”
Very funny 🤣🤣🤣.
But is it?
Gossip hurts us more than it hurts anyone.
I have gossiped about other people as well as had been a victim of gossip. It doesn’t feel good. It’s like a knife that cuts you into pieces. It hurts so much. It’s like swallowing poison. The first time I became more aware of the toxicity of gossip was when I was a victim. It hurts too much I couldn’t even cry.
The book, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz of shook me to the bone. They are: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don’t Take Anything Personally, Don’t Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best.
The first agreement is, “Be impeccable with your word.” Ruiz goes into detail about the root of the word “impeccable,” stemming from “without sin.” He continues to explain and emphasize the importance of using our words wisely, restating over and over that our word has a ripple effect on the people around us.
I know it feels good to gossip. And that’s the danger because gossip makes you feel justified and superior. I believe that’s how the snake deceived Eve.
When we gossip we start fires that destroy homes, families, friendships lives.
“…There are three things that are never satisfied, really four that never say, ‘I’ve had enough! ‘: the cemetery, the childless mother, the land that never gets enough rain, and fire that never says, ‘I’ve had enough! (Proverbs 30:15-16)