Did you hear what she did last night?

September 4, 2012 by


As women, most of us love to talk. I know that my older daughter began incessant chatting right before she turned 2, and hasn’t stopped since!

For a myriad of reasons, women also seem prone to gossip. Maybe it makes us feel better about ourselves. Sometimes I think it’s because we think we have nothing better to discuss. Perhaps it’s boredom. 

It seems that God knew we would be tempted by this practice. Proverbs tells us: “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy many keeps a secret.” (11:13) 

Proverbs 16:28 also says, “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.“

Ouch.  Separating close friends? Betraying confidence? Surely, “just a little gossip” couldn’t bring about these consequences, could it? 



Ask Rebecca and Sarah. Two very close friends- their friendship ruined for years because of a little gossip overheard through a baby monitor.  It was literally a one-time incident that caused incalculable amounts of pain in both Rebecca and Sarah’s lives.

I met Sarah and Rebecca through a Christian blogging community of which we are all a part, and when I found out that they wrote a book- aptly named Just a Little Gossip– about their broken (and now mended) friendship, I knew that it was something I wanted to read. Even though I knew it would be sad. Convicting. And in the end, encouraging.

Reading this book is literally reading the diaries of these ladies during this difficult time. It is very eye-opening to see such a raw look at both Sarah and Rebecca’s emotions about the situation. Each party was deeply wounded, and it seemed as if the friendship was over forever. And if it hadn’t been for God’s grace and conviction, it would have been.

The book also has study questions built right into the text. The ladies ask you to look deep into your soul and examine what you could change in your life- things like, “Are there friends in your life you have formed bad habits with? What can you do to change the pattern?” (p. 18) So it’s not just reading about the mistakes they made, but also taking an introspective look into the hard issues that we deal with each day. 

Besides gossip, the book also covers topics such as pride and obedience to the Lord.

The fact that these ladies both have very loving hearts is evident throughout the whole book, and if gossip is something with which you struggle, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. You can see how a friendship is almost permanently ended due to “Just a Little Gossip.”

You can find Sarah and Rebecca online at SheShares.org.

You can buy the book here, or check at your local library!

 

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Filed Under: book review, books, christian issues, gossip, other blogs, read
About Kelli Hays

Kelli Hays is a wife, mother, writer, and friend. She has been blogging since 2008 and loves sharing inspiration for the everyday woman!

Comments

  1. Julie Sancken says
    September 4, 2012 at 7:05 pm

    I too, was totally convicted by this book and so in awe of how God worked in their lives!

  2. Kelli@eatpray{read}love says
    September 4, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    I know! It truly is a testament to God’s grace and women willing to follow God’s lead!

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  3. Vanessa says
    September 4, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    I’m definitely picking up this book Kelli! I have already found myself in the middle of 2 moms from school who “share” with me their grievances about each other and it is taking every once of strength I have to just listen and encourage yet not participate in it. I’m praying that God will use me to speak into their lives and protect me from joining in the gossip. Thanks so much for sharing this with us! 🙂
    Vanessa

  4. Samantha says
    September 4, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    Can’t wait to snag this book and really dive in. I have seen a few different posts about this and am truly inspired. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Kelli@eatpray{read}love says
    September 4, 2012 at 9:52 pm

    It is definitely the hardest thing I struggle with. It is so easy to slip into- but our words have so much power! (for good or bad)

  6. Sarah Harmony-Powell says
    September 4, 2012 at 9:54 pm

    AMAZING review Kelli! Wow, you are such a brilliant writer and I am honored that you did this for us. You had even ME sold on it! 🙂 Thank you.

  7. Kelli@eatpray{read}love says
    September 4, 2012 at 10:22 pm

    It is the only book I’ve read (besides the Bible of course!) that addresses the topic in such a profound way. Let me know how you like it!

  8. Paula Chaffin says
    September 6, 2012 at 3:34 am

    Kelli,
    Thank you for highlighting this book. I just ordered it from them and can’t wait to study it. What a great opportunity for change, all the way around!

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