Gossip is easily spread, so the easiest way to keep a secret is without the help of other people. Gossip is like a boomerang, it returns back to the person who throws it. But first, while moving in a circle, it hits its target. So does gossip.

He who guards his lips guards his soul. Gossip betrays confidence; whoever gossips to us will gossip about us. We should free our lives from the fangs of gossips by not associating ourselves with them. Anyone who helps us to gossip about someone can also help someone to gossip about us.

One of the most difficult troubles of the spirit to deal with is critical spirit. A critical spirit has its root in pride. We are quick to see and to speak of the faults of others, but slow to see our own. How sweetly we relish the opportunity to speak critically of someone else even when we are unsure of the facts. We forget that a man who stirs up dissension among brothers by criticizing one to another is one of the things which the Lord hates.

I have learned that a rumor is a social cancer. It is difficult to contain and it rots the brains of the masses. However, the real danger is that so many people find rumors enjoyable. That part causes the infection. And in such cases when a rumor is only partially made of truth, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the information may have gone wrong. It is passed on and on until some brave soul questions its validity and fully amputates the information in order to protect personal judgment of the lie believed to be true.

I have also learned that gossip is a very dangerous tool. We should be more wary of the gossiper, and not the gossip they're trying to relay to us. When we gossip, it is self-hexing which mean when we do it, it comes back to us. Everything starts with the word that demonstrates a condition of the mind and comes out of our mouth. Gossip is when we have a malice of intent or mindless, third-party conversation to someone about someone, something we haven't said to that someone.

We should resolve to speak ill of no one whatsoever, not even in a matter of truth but upon proper occasions speak all the good we know of everybody. Wisdom is knowing when to speak our mind and when to mind our speech. A lot of trouble in this world is caused by combining a narrow mind with a wide mouth.

By Tim Pedrosa

Tim