One of my devotions this morning was on keeping the thoughts in our minds right and focusing on the good.
Philippians 4:8 NIV “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.”
The author penned a short note that she was going to be extra mindful today of gossiping! I appreciate the different directions she took regarding this scripture!
So I looked up the actual definition of “gossip”
Gossip~casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.” (Oxford Languages) You know the conversation, “you are never going to believe what I heard!”
This is our typical thought of gossiping but what about your conversation with your friend, spouse, parent, or co-worker about your friend, spouse, parent, or co-worker?
Is it gossiping when we have been wounded by someone’s actions or words and we are sharing our hurt with a trusted ear?
When we share our own personal feelings about how we were made to feel, left to feel and so on, this is not gossip! This is an expression of our emotions being shared however if the conversation drifts to attacking, accusing, finger-pointing, personal opinions, and a barrage of negativity regarding said offense and offender, then we’ve hit gossip.
There’s a difference between venting and gossiping! There a very fine line between venting and gossiping!
Dear Lord, I humbly ask you today to help me not cross the line between venting and gossiping. I thank you for the gift of friendship in my life and the sounding boards they can be, help me to keep my conversations positive, healing and light! Help me Lord not to drag mud and filth into my emotional conversations because then it becomes destruction and darkness. I thank you Lord I am a child of your light and heart. I thank you for my growth every day. I Thank You, Lord, for that growth. In your beautiful name I pray. Amen 🙏
I hope you have a blessed day and thank you as always for joining me. 🥰
Sunshine On My Shoulder 