Mind Your Own Business

My Mammaw has a magnet on her refrigerator that says, "Dear Lord, Please keep your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth!"

Cute, hu? I wish He would really do that! Gossip, putting your foot in my mouth, being snarky or sarcastic... These are things I really have struggled with over the years. It is so easy for me to get caught up in a whirlwind of gossip. (Confession: I subscribed to a gossip magazine for like six or seven YEARS for goodness sake!) I have worked on this and prayed about this for the last several years.

Last week I found myself in a very awkward situation at work. To make a long story short, a colleague tried to pull me into a "conflict" between her and another teacher. It made me uncomfortable from the get-go.  Really uncomfortable.  Unfortunately, while this was going on the other colleague happened to walk by. (I realize just how "junior high" this sounds, and it is!). I am proud to say that I did not enter into the mix and avoided any gossip.

I still had to clear up misconceptions, though.

I felt awful...I felt uncomfortable. I knew I didn't really do anything wrong, but I knew I needed to get it out in the open. In the end, I think all of us felt uncomfortable and remorseful. All of this stress was avoidable too. Our words are so powerful. With them we can lift others up, make someone's day, encourage. Or we can tear down and put down. 

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.   Psalm 19:14 

I need to find myself one of those magnets...

Tot ziens!