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Moments for Moms

On Gossip

“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much” (Proverbs 20:19, NIV).

A good rule of thumb is, if someone gossips to you, she’ll probably also gossip about you. But what can we do when we’re caught in a situation where gossip is being handed to us? First, we can try to graciously change the subject or turn a conversation headed in a negative direction around with a positive spin. For example, if one mom starts “commenting” on another mom’s parenting skills or housekeeping finesse or playing any other comparison game, take the opportunity to point out something good about the mom in question. If the speaker doesn’t catch the subtle hint, you may need to come right out and say you’d rather not talk about other people. But if the person persists, it may be time to look for a new friend.

Lord, sometimes it’s “fun” to talk about other people. It’s easy to get caught up in that kind of conversation. But I know it’s wrong. Help me not to be the kind of person who repeats gossip, and show me how to turn conversations in a better direction when someone else is tempted to spread rumors.

Reprinted from The Busy Mom’s Guide to Wisdom by Lisa Whelchel ©2006 Howard Publishing Co., Inc.

LISA WHELCHEL is best known for her role as “Blair” on the long-running television comedy The Facts of Life. Now a homeschooling mother, speaker, and pastor’s wife, she is the best-selling author of Creative Corrections, The Facts of Life and Other Lessons My Father Taught Me, and The Busy Mom’s Guide to Prayer. Lisa and her husband, Steve, are the co-founders of MomTime Ministries. They live in Texas with their children, Tucker, Haven, and Clancy.

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