A moral lesson to learn & practice.

1. A woman repeated a bit of gossip about
a neighbour. Within a few days the whole
community knew the story. The person it
concerned was deeply hurt and
offended.

2. Later the woman responsible
for spreading the rumour
learned that it was completely
untrue. She was very sorry and
went to a wise old sage to find
out what she could do to repair
the damage.

3. "Go to the marketplace," he said, "and
purchase a chicken, and have it killed.
Then on your way home, pluck its
feathers and drop them one by one along
the road."

4. Although surprised by this advice, the
woman did what she was told.

5. The next day the wise man said, "Now go
and collect all those feathers you
dropped yesterday and bring them back
to me."

6. The woman followed the same road, but
to her dismay, the wind had blown the
feathers all away. After searching for
hours, she returned with only three in
her hand.

7. "You see," said the old sage, "it's easy to
drop them, but it's impossible to get
them back. So it is with gossip. It doesn't
take much to spread a rumour, but once
you do, you can never completely undo
the wrong."
© Original Author

8. Words
Some words are like buckets that carry lots of things. Some words
are like hornets that leave some nasty stings. Some words are like
music that make us want to sing. Some words are like messengers
that have good news to bring. Some words are like hammers that
beat upon your day.

9. Some words are like pillows that soften
what you say. So when you open up your
mouth and have some words to share, Be
sure those are just the words to show
that you really care! Soft words are
pillows for the hurts!!!
© Original Author

10. See if you can identify "WHO AM I?" from the
following clues:
I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing.
I break hearts and ruin lives.

11. 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.

12. 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 end ministries set up by God.

13. I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartache
and indigestion.
I spawn suspicion and generate grief.
I make headlines, headaches and heartaches.
I make innocent people cry in their pillows.
Even my name hisses.

14. WHO AM I? I AM CALLED GOSSIP.
I come in many forms:
Church gossip
Office gossip
Shop gossip
Party gossip
Telephone gossip
Online gossip

15. How many clues did it take for
you to identify it?
So...before you repeat
something, first ask yourself...

16. IS IT TRUE?
IS IT FAIR?
IS IT NECESSARY?
WOULD I WANT IT DONE TO ME?

17. Just something to think about
for this day...
Have a blessed, gossip-free
day!
Ann Landers Aug 1985
Trinity
26.7.09