M is for Mouth - (meditation by Brianna)
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| Source: escolaespacoeducar.com.br |
Proverbs 8:6-7
I’m not proud to admit it, but one of my weaknesses is gossip. When I was in high school, I think that’s all that came out of my mouth. It seemed that I was always putting someone down to bring myself up, but it never worked. All it did was leave a bitter taste on my lips.
As I matured, I realized gossip was doing me more harm than good, but simply knowing it was wrong didn’t keep me from talking badly about others. Finally when the guilt was too much to bear, I confessed my weakness and helplessness in prayer. Afterwards the temptation to gossip remained as powerful as ever, but suddenly when confronted with an opportunity to gossip, my conscience was stronger than the temptation.
Some days I’m weak and indulge, but I always pay for it later. Guilt eats away at me making me miserable until I confess that I’ve failed again and ask for the strength and wisdom to resist the urge to gossip in the future. Genuine confession is pleasing to the lips.
Reflection on Proverb by Brianna Renshaw, member of 1st Writes. Her blogs are: Pocketful of Playdough and Bible Bloggers.
In honor of the letter ‘M’, Brianna’s giving away a copy of Chicken Soup For The Soul: Messages From Heaven, in which her story ‘Strawberry Fields’ is published. Visit her personal blog - Pocketful of Playdough – and leave a comment on this post to enter for a chance to win.
Brianna,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that. I've gotten caught up in gossip too. We have to guard ourselves against it.
It's so easy and sometimes I don't even know I'm doing it until it's too late.
DeleteIt certainly can be difficult to stay away from gossip - there are people who make it into their career - the checkouts at the store are filled with gossip magazine!
ReplyDeleteDif-tor heh smusma
- T'Laina (vibrant-oxymoron.blogspot.com)
Good point! Reading those magazines is also a form of gossip. With celebrities it's even harder to guard against gossip because of their status, it just seems like a natural thing to do.
DeleteThis is a good reminder. I found myself talking about a couple people who were frustrating me to no end, yet, while I felt better in the short term to get out these pent up frustrations by talking about them, I didn't feel good after that initial release. I'm hoping I've found the better way to deal with those frustrations directly now.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z
Shannon, you're right. At first it's a good release and then the guilt creeps in. Best of luck fighting the temptation to gossip!
DeleteWell said. As we grow in the Word, we see ourselves so clearly. What an incredible book. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzi! Daily reading of the scripture is a great way to make fighting the temptation to gossip easier.
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