Bethlehem Blessing

It wasn’t the first time I came across a person who seemed they had nothing better to do than to gossip.

When this person first saw me, they asked if my name were Linda, or Layla. They were close. From the tone of voice and the accusatory nature of their questions, I knew that they had been gossiping about me.

Right away, after acting nasty with me, the person began to tell a tall tale about someone I had just met who was kind, and who believed in God. I defended the kind woman, and the gossiper began to insist on relaying the story they had begun a few minutes before. I just raised my arms up in the air as if I didn’t know what was going on. I clearly knew what was going on though.

About a week later, another person whom some people had told me to stay away from. while they circled their fingers in front of their ears as if to insinuate the innocent person was crazy, mentioned the gossip down at the entrance to the building. All they said was that there was a lot of gossip going on down there.

So, when I went down in that area of the building today, there was the group of people holding court for those coming and going in and out of the door. A person who had tried to get me all worked up before, spoke up. She asked, “What’s your name?”

I wasn’t about to give her anything to speak about, so I quickly asked her what her name was, and popped out of the door. I didn’t give her my name.

I am a confident woman, so I just figured these types we desperate, bored, and a tad evil. But, when I thought of the other girls whom the gossipers gossiped about, it made me sad. Sad, because the other girls are gentle, quiet, reserved and filled with goodness. They wouldn’t hit a mosquito if it landed on them. I could tell it hurt their feelings when they were talked about negatively.

When I got back upstairs, I found my promises from God book, and recited the verses about our enemies, prayed them in Jesus’ name, and said Amen to all of them. I prayed them for all of us who had been the butt of hurtful people’s jokes, and evil statements.

I won’t mention that I came across the gossipers when I speak to the other girls. I will just keep it to myself. And if I see them trying to pull something on myself or others I will not speak, I will pray.

Psalm 121:7-8 reads, “The Lord will keep you from all harm–he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” NIV

Thank you for reading.

I love you,

Lisa Brown