The smile wears thin and the lies begin

"Gossip needn't be false to be evil - there's a lot of truth that shouldn't be passed around. "

~Frank A. Clark

Nowadays, I find people so into the lives of other people. It has been their hobby to talk about another person's affairs, situations, decisions, mistakes and a lot more. Which makes me wonder, why? Why are they taking pleasure in matters that are none of their business? I mean, yes, I have to admit that there are also times that I get to listen to some gossips about some people I know. And I really listen as if it's music to my ear. I cannot understand why I listen, but I know in my heart I don't pass it along.

Let me, take that back. There were instances that I am guilty of passing along gossips to some trusted people. And I am also guilty that sometimes I get to pass some gossips to another out of necessity... so that I'd have something interesting to share, for instance. For whatever reason, I am guilty. It doesn't make me happy nor proud of myself because I know it is so wrong. And I know in my heart that if someone would do the same to me, I will be deeply affected and will be badly hurt.

Maybe, it is our nature, human's nature to meddle on other people's life. It's weird and very petty. When we could always find a lot more sensible and useful things to do. Quoting Dolley Madison, "It is one of my sources of happiness never to desire a knowledge of other people's business," I hope to make it a point not to spread gossips anymore, no matter how true the story may be. Like come on! It is none of anyone's business anymore if a co-worker got pregnant, or the janitor was once accused of a crime (as long as you're not directly affected), or the supervisor is cheating on his girlfriend. Damn, these are just things we have nothing to do with anymore!

I am just bothered that it might become a fad or something. Worse, a hobby. Personally, I intend not to continue on tolerating people telling me any form of hearsay, anymore. I noticed that tolerating such things in my life makes me part of it. If I just listen, sure it's not just going to stay with me. It's going to come out because I already have a shared knowledge of something. Once, the topic is opened, I'd sure begin to talk about what I know. It's not right. Also, it's going to cause me to become judgmental. So, I hope I can gather all the strength I need to do what I should do. To put on brakes.

A bumper sticker motto expresses the goal of a campaign to curb gossip: “Put the breaks on loshon hora.” The movement began with Rabbi Chaim Feld in Cleveland, Ohio, who says the Bible forbids speaking words that hurt other people in any way. Loshon Hora is a Hebrew phrase for negative or cruel speech—an evil that causes untold damage.

Rabbi Feld says, “If you’ve never met Michael, and someone tells you he is a jerk, then Michael has been murdered for you, before you even met him.”

Someone has said, “When tempted to gossip, breathe through your nose.” That’s a good way to keep our mouths shut, but we also need a solution that gets to the heart of the issue.

The antidote to the poison of gossip is love, which neutralizes the toxin in our hearts before it escapes through our lips. The Bible tells us, “’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ love does no harm to neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:9-10).

Whenever we’re tempted to pass along negative word about someone, even if it’s true, let’s seek God’s help in putting the brakes on gossip. Instead of loshon hora, let’s speak word of kindness and love.

- David McCasland

Temper's the one thing you can't get rid of by losing it

I reviewed my old blog entries in multiply. There are some that I think I should copy and post here.

I chose to post the story below to remind myself that I need to remain patient at all times. Also, to share with my readers that they have a responsibility to remain patient and respectful of others' differences.

Most of the time, we get irritated or angry because someone failed to meet our expectations. It is just normal. But to get easily angry is another story. To burst in anger is even worse. We can never expect people to act or react according to our expectations. There may be instances that could really push us to our boundaries, but to be mean and rude is never a good response. We don't know how much pain we can induce to a person if we let our anger rule us.

Yes. There are irritating people. So many of them. I have some things I dislike about someone. And I cannot deny the fact that maybe there are some who have some dislikes about me too. So, that makes us mutual, right? Having this in mind, I know where to put myself. I know that it is my responsibility to respect the difference of every individual I have to deal with everyday. They can do silly things that could piss me, but that doesn't mean I have the right to be rude. I have to keep in mind that my parents sent me to good schools so I can be a good person. Therefore, I will try harder to be a good person. For all I know, I also have some attitude that's annoying to others.

Just imagine how lovely the world could be if all of us work to bring harmony into it. If we respect and not judge. If we just accept each other's differences...

Here is the story...

This is a true story which happened in the States.

A man came out of his home to admire his new truck.

To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck.

The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment.

When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands.

When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?"

The father went home & committed suicide.



Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't.

Too often we fail to recognise the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.

Pause and ponder. Think before you act. Be patient. Forgive & forget. Love one and all.