Pride and Pettiness (and the Gospel of Matthew)
There are in this world
people who gossip and
believe not in consequences
Care not of feelings
Worry not of redemption
I feel sorry for them
Living self-contained,
self-serving lives, not
penitent for own faults
Gossip is the stuff of
cowardice; direct talk is
the only right course.
If you love me, tell me
If you hate me, tell me
Don’t go behind my back
And remember, when you
point a finger at me, you
point three back at yourself
Matthew 18:15-16 says to
speak to the person directly
A tribute to righteous living
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Three Word Wednesday gave us Penitent, Tribute, and Believe; ABC Wednesday is up to P. Also at Poets United, where there is never any backbiting or pettiness, just poetry! Too many communities, not just Christian, are prone to gossip, to not speaking directly to the person they are mad at or have problems with. Just a reminder from The Word. Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Debbie
Preach it, Amy! 🙂
Akila
very well said! a plain talk sorts things out but fact is everyone prefers it laced. i guess the tendency is to look out for a round about way…
http://randomlynovel.blogspot.in/2013/05/a-welcome-tribute_1.html
oldegg
None of us is perfect. We all have faults but how much better it is to be told of them by one person in love rather than a crowd of bullies.
vivinfrance
A;; wise and true, Amy. I’ve emailed you asking for help.
Love,
ViVx
Leigh Hall
Right on the ball as always, Amy. There is a difference between ‘having a good crack’, and gossiping. It’s amazing how few people are mentally equipped to accept honest comment, without getting offended.
Welcome to: A Kind of Life at http://altonian33.blogspot.com/
georgefloreswrite
Amen, Amy! Gossip is nasty and it is a form of psychological warfare. It’s used by people who are afraid to stand alone and thrive on the feeling that they are better than so-and-so when they are usually worse. Gossips and hyenas have a lot in common – they both need packs behind them and they laugh while they tear others apart.
mindlovemisery
I really hate malicious gossip, I am with you Amy on being direct if you have a grievance.
brian miller
matt 18 is def a great scripture to know and live,
i think it actually leads to a more active forgiveness
as well when we follow it…i would rather the honesty
than to be stabbed when i dont see it
Ann
Great reminder for us all to stick to the absolute truth!!!!!
Roger Green
And the crowd goes WILD!
Rallentanda
Just a word of encouragement from a stilleto heel marked survivor…after the first hundred you wont feel a thing and swat them away like flies!:)
Jae Rose
Everything comes back..eventually..it takes the bigger woman to hold her tongue..and speak loudly in the right forum..which you always do..love and hugs..jae x
Sheilagh Lee
you tell them Amy.
Sara v
Amen Sistah Amy!! Own it–don’t sneak around with it. 😉