Of Gossip Mongers....

My sister picked up baby girl for a day out. So later that day baby girl told me a ridiculous tale of how she didn't have her seat belt on and my sister apparently hit the brakes and threw her out of the window (windscreen). I wondered why she didn't have a scratch on her so I waited for my sister to give me an account of that incident but she didn't! So I made a mental note to self not to allow her to pick up baby girl again and actually called my sis-in-law to express how ridiculous that is! Can you imagine? How can that happen? So weeks later during a get-together my sister told us how baby girl refused to fasten her safety belt (on the day out) so she made up a story about an accident to scare her and it worked. Too bad that story got into her so much that she told it to me in first person! And to think I almost skinned my sister alive! No it didn't happen to baby girl she made that up!This incident got me thinking. How many times do you believe hear say without counter checking and having facts?

I don’t encourage gossip because if someone can talk to you about others, then rest assured that she/he is also talking about you to others! I would rather tell you something in the face than whisper about it behind your back. 

Gossipers hide their pain by slandering other people. When people are slandering you it is a revelation of the anger and bitterness they have in their heart. They want to make you look bad, because they feel bad about a situation. C  Joybell once said that “Life is too short to waste any amount of time on wondering what other people think about you. In the first place, if they had better things going on in their lives, they wouldn't have the time to sit around and talk about you. What's important to me is not others' opinions of me, but what's important to me is my opinion of myself.”

From the outside this person seems strong and popular but on the inside she/he doesn’t have the courage to repeat what he/she said infront of  the person being gossiped about. 

Why do people Gossip?

Low self esteem:

Most gossipers devalue themselves, they have no self worth and they bring others down to their level with words. They want to appear better than the other person and thus say demeaning and mostly untrue words just to appear better. 

Jealousy:

This is the main reason for gossip. Some people are just jealous of what someone has been able to accomplish and wish they were that person. They mostly do not have the courage to do what that person has been able to do.

How can you handle Gossipers?

Listen:

Yes listen to what the gossiper has to say. Depending on your relationship with that person, tell them off to the face or just change the topic. Do not encourage him/her to go on by showing interest or contributing.

Confront: If you hear somethings doing the rounds about you and you are able to know the source, confront the source and stand up for yourself! Do not allow your name to be dragged into the gutters especially by someone you know so well. 

Choose your friends wisely and do not tell everyone everything! 

So what does the bible say?

Proverbs 10:18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. 

Why do you want to concern yourself with things that do not benefit you? How does talking about another person benefit you?

Proverbs 11: 9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. 

Why do you want to destroy another person by your words? Why do you want to bring another person down? If you don’t agree with that person let them be and move on with your life!

 

Proverbs 20:19 

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Have you ever shared your secrets or personal stuff with someone and the next minute someone else is asking you about it? and you be like I trusted you! Be very careful who you share with your secrets with.

Proverbs 26:20 

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases

 Be the bigger person and quench gossip instead of fueling it! If you are in a place that someone else is being slandered stand up and be the bigger person! When you get wind of a gossip do not spread it. Just let it end there.

Revelation 10:12 You need to be very careful of the accuser of the brethren that has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. As a Christian, you aren’t perfect but you have to be careful not to be brought down. 

Remember:

Everyone back biting you is behind your back! Every time they attack you means you are blessed. Sometimes people try to expose whats wrong with you because they cant handle whats right with you! 

 

 PS: 2nd May Marks the start of my blogging journey. My first post went up on 3rd May. I thank God for this far that I have come and Thank you my silent readers, yes, you, you and you. I appreciate every feedback. Positive or negative. Glory to GOD.