Hee Haw Girls
"Now, we're not ones to go 'round spreadin' rumors,
Why, really we're just not the gossipy kind,
No, you'll never hear one of us repeating gossip,
So you'd better be sure and listen close the first time!"
That little ditty was sang by the Hee Haw Gossip Girls as one of the recurring skits that they did through the years. It was always light hearted and funny – and lots of people watched it for that reason. Few of us like to be the target of such discussions – even in jest and that is even if we do it a great deal.
I have had people tell me: “Gossiping is just part of who we are.” Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. If it was part of who we are then it would not bother us when someone gossiped about us. It would be just harmless banter that would never hurt our feelings and did not impact our reputation. Gossip is something that is a mix of truth. lies, motive divination and selective understanding. It is not harmless and in fact keeps us from experiencing the fullness of God’s grace.
To be sure, there are times sharing information regarding a person or situation is not Gossip. Those times should always be focused on drawing the person into a process of healing and restoration. It does take sharing information to do an appropriate intervention when someone is on a self-destructive path, or sharing wonderfully joyful news – yet that is far less of the sharing than it needs to be because we have not learned to edit and be helpful in our speech.
Gossip by its very nature causes people to look at others as if they just walked off the stage of a freak show. We wink as we say something indicating that there is more to the story than we actually say and letting minds that are polluted build images that destroy someone. We fail to check another’s words and implications because – “It is not my business, “ when in fact we are implying that we agree with what someone is saying and add fuel to the fire that destroys friendships, families and faith. There is no such thing as harmless gossip because we do it when the other person is not present. If it was harmless we could all laugh about it together or not have to worry when we are found out as saying something.
This week I invite you to give up Gossip. To let your words build lives rather than bring down people. I invite you to speak in ways that will not embarrass you if the person you speak of hears about it. I invite you to be a speaker of life by sharing words that are positive and uplifting. Let them be challenging, but being open and direct helps life become better and not hurtful.
Blessings,
Pastor Greg
Why, really we're just not the gossipy kind,
No, you'll never hear one of us repeating gossip,
So you'd better be sure and listen close the first time!"
That little ditty was sang by the Hee Haw Gossip Girls as one of the recurring skits that they did through the years. It was always light hearted and funny – and lots of people watched it for that reason. Few of us like to be the target of such discussions – even in jest and that is even if we do it a great deal.
I have had people tell me: “Gossiping is just part of who we are.” Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. If it was part of who we are then it would not bother us when someone gossiped about us. It would be just harmless banter that would never hurt our feelings and did not impact our reputation. Gossip is something that is a mix of truth. lies, motive divination and selective understanding. It is not harmless and in fact keeps us from experiencing the fullness of God’s grace.
To be sure, there are times sharing information regarding a person or situation is not Gossip. Those times should always be focused on drawing the person into a process of healing and restoration. It does take sharing information to do an appropriate intervention when someone is on a self-destructive path, or sharing wonderfully joyful news – yet that is far less of the sharing than it needs to be because we have not learned to edit and be helpful in our speech.
Gossip by its very nature causes people to look at others as if they just walked off the stage of a freak show. We wink as we say something indicating that there is more to the story than we actually say and letting minds that are polluted build images that destroy someone. We fail to check another’s words and implications because – “It is not my business, “ when in fact we are implying that we agree with what someone is saying and add fuel to the fire that destroys friendships, families and faith. There is no such thing as harmless gossip because we do it when the other person is not present. If it was harmless we could all laugh about it together or not have to worry when we are found out as saying something.
This week I invite you to give up Gossip. To let your words build lives rather than bring down people. I invite you to speak in ways that will not embarrass you if the person you speak of hears about it. I invite you to be a speaker of life by sharing words that are positive and uplifting. Let them be challenging, but being open and direct helps life become better and not hurtful.
Blessings,
Pastor Greg
posted by Covenant of the Cross at
12:32 PM
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