Bite Your Tongue

"A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."  Proverbs 16:28

This week I felt like a victim of gossip.  I know that because we are pastors of our church, and in the public eye, there's potential for that all the time.  I'm not naive to think that we make everyone happy, or do the right thing all the time, or are immune to people's criticisms.  It's just when I get to hear what is being said that it cuts to the heart.  I think I'd like to choose to be oblivious.

"La, la, la, la, la, la, la...(with finger inserted in my ears)."

But it was a good reminder for me.  I'm not always a saint in the gossip department either.  Complaining is easy to do, especially when I've been hurt, find myself angry, or feel disappointed.

I want to be an example to my children on how to be different.  Gossip doesn't help us to look like who God wants us to be.  So, today I'm praying that they learn to be more like Christ and less like the world.  Shorter on natural tendencies and longer on grace.

Let's go back to the lesson we learned in kindergarten..."If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." 

Lord, be the guard on our lips.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle's lips are always marked by grace for others and praise for you.  In the moments where they are tempted to speak ill of someone else, or tell a story that is not theirs to tell, I pray that your Spirit prompts them to choose to differently. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—I pray that they think about such things.  Thank you, Lord, for hearing these prayerful words of my heart.