The Not-so-True Story finally Revealed

It’s fun to gossip, don’t you think? It makes us feel like we’re in the ‘know-it-all’ positions. This position is desirable by many – including, especially, if unmonitored: me. You see the one who holds ‘little secrets’ have the ‘power’. Well… the power to separate friends, reveals people’s secrets and causes much hurt – of course. The writer of Proverbs observed it very well, “A trouble maker plans seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.” (16:28)

Let me share with you an interesting story about the always-ugly side of gossip. I hope that it would be a good reminder for you and me to reconsider its consequences toward others and especially, ourselves. Let me check my quote file… em, let me check… G… G… G… Go… Gossip… aha! Here it is;

A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor, and within a short period of time the whole town knew the story. The person it concerned was hurt deeply and was very unhappy. Then one day the lady responsible for spreading the rumor learned it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise old saga to find out what she could do to repair the damage. After listening to her problem, he said,

“Go to the marketplace, purchase a fowl, and have it killed. Then on your way home, pluck its feathers one by one and drop them along the path.”

Although surprised by this unusual advice, the woman did as she was told. The next day she returned and informed the man that she had done as he instructed.

“Now, go and collect all those feathers and bring them back to me,” he said.

The lady followed the same path, but to her dismay the wind had blown all the feathers away. After searching all day long, she returned with only two or three in her hand – all that could be found.

“You see,” said the old gentleman, “it’s easy to drop them, but impossible to bring them all back. So it is with gossip. It doesn’t take much to spread a false rumor, but you can never completely undo the wrong.”

Here are my 2 cents suggestions: You can stop gossip by changing the subject or by saying something kind about the person being targeted. If you know anyone that love to gossip, try to stay away from him or her. If you know anyone that love to gossip but you simply can’t get away from him or her, (example; family members) try to let that ‘little secrets’ go in one ear and out the other. I love the truth stated in the Bible that says, “Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.” (Proverbs 26:20) When you don’t add fuel to the fire, the fire will go out.

P.s: Spread this ‘gossip’ to gossipers around you. They’ll love it! Spread also this ‘gossip’ to non-gossipers around you. They should be reminded.

THINK BIG · START SMALL · GO DEEP