My name is Gossip

“My Name Is Gossip. I have no respect for
justice. I maim without killing. I break hearts
and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and
gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society. My victims
are helpless. They cannot protect themselves
against me because I have no name and no
face.
To track me down is impossible. The harder
you try, the more elusive I become. I am
nobody’s friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it
is never the same. I topple governments and
ruin marriages. I ruin careers and cause
sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion. I
spawn suspicion and generate grief.
I make innocent people cry in their pillows.
Even my name hisses. I AM CALLED GOSSIP.”
This eye-opening poem from an unknown
author says a lot about the damage done
through gossip. What about the famous phrase
we all have heard. “Sticks and stones may
break my bones, but words will never hurt me”?
In our hearts, we know this is not true, even
though it may be a useful attitude to take when
insulted by others. Reciting those words does
not take the hurt away.
Words do tremendous damage. So unless
you’ve been a victim of violent crime or of a
major illness or something else catastrophic,
your deepest pains have probably come from
hurtful words.
Culled from www.1timothy4-13.com