GOOD GOSSIP

Proverbs 12:25 - An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Just by the sheer implication, gossip doesn’t sound too appealing. It reeks of mystery and cover-up. It goes under the guise of well intentions, but ends up tangled and convoluted. And no, I‘m not talking about the latest spy novel. Gossip has a dark air about it that leads to false perceptions and ruined reputations. And as Christians, we are called to exhort and edify, not tear down and destroy.

What the world needs more is “good gossip.“ Whoa! What do I mean by good gossip? Well, to explain the difference, I think it’s best to compare the two. First, gossip is shared in secret and apart from the person in which the gossip is directed. Good gossip invites the person to listen in to what is shared about them. Gossip is, in most cases, nothing but hearsay. Good gossip is a collection of observations and personal insights about a person’s good qualities. Gossip only brings pleasure to the one spreading its venomous diatribes. Good gossip offers the recipient opportunity to receive pleasure and much-needed encouragement from what others think of them. And finally, gossip destroys reputations. But good gossip frames the truth around hopelessness, despair, discouragement and feelings of low self-worth. Good gossip says that you are a daughter of great value and significant worth, regardless of what any gossiper might say to the contrary.

So with that in mind, invite a few friends over for what I lovingly call “The Good Gossip Exercise.” This exercise is extremely powerful in “anxious seasons.“ Those are times when we truly need to be reminded of what God thinks of us through others. All you need is a timekeeper, paper and pen. For a specified period of time, your friends get to say good things about you (Ex. “Doris is a great friend”; “Doris is a caring person”; “Doris looks sharp in hats!”). The key is to write down these gems of truth in the allotted time. Now, here’s the clincher - after time is up, you are to read each one back in the first person (i.e., “I am a great friend”; I am a caring person”; “I look sharp in hats!”).

Depending on your disposition, reading this good gossip may sound uncomfortable and strange. That’s more than okay. Hey, it’s to be expected. You see, unlike the world’s form of gossip, you get to be the proverbial fly on the wall. Your friends are called to speak truth into your life and this is a wonderful way to invite you into their conversation. Soon you’ll find the weight of those anxious thoughts being lifted!