Dealing with Gossip

By Devon Harrison, teenager

Question

Why does everyone gossip, and how can we deal with it?

Answer

Gossip can show up in the littlest ways. It can be shown through hurtful comments; it can be started by jealousy; or it can come from simple discussion. But whatever way it appears, it hurts.

It seems that people gossip because they're insecure or selfish. Many people feel that they don't have what it takes to be the best, so they put down others so they can look better. They are not confident enough with themselves, so they think they can use things against others to try to gain more confidence within themselves. Other times, people are jealous of others so they use words to put them down and try to overpower them. They even try to get their friends to side with them. People who gossip only look at the outward appearance instead of looking beyond the surface to see what the person they're talking about is really like underneath. It is sad to think that gossip can make the victim lose relationships and confidence.

Gossip never stops until someone stands up and doesn't let it affect him or her. Letting yourself get hurt by gossip is one of the worst things you can do. But it's hard not to feel hurt. One of the ways to fight gossip is to forgive the person who is gossiping about you. Forgiving someone can be the hardest, but the best, thing to do.

Jesus demonstrated forgiveness. He loved unconditionally, even when he was at the point of dying. When he was on the cross, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). This clearly shows that all it takes to overcome the lies and labels people place on you is to love first and then forgive.

When you love and forgive, all the jealousy, hate, and selfishness will not affect you. It may even fall away. Even though it seems crazy sometimes to love or to forgive someone, loving and forgiving will give you much more confidence in yourself and who you want to become.