Gos-Sip…A Curious History… Hello weekend readers. It’s hard to believe we turn the page to May this coming Monday! Where does the time go? I was reading a fun tidbit about Winston Churchill and it has to do with the word ‘gossip.’ I dug into some history and I think you will be amazed at the transformation of this word. So, my musing from the history at Word Histories-Ad Fontes!

“This word is from the Old English noun godsibb, composed of god and the adjective sib(b), meaning akin, related (the noun sibling, composed of sib and the suffix -ling originally denoted one who is of kin to another). The original sense of gossip was one who has contracted spiritual affinity with another by acting as a sponsor at a baptism. That is to say, gossip meant godfather or godmother, in relation to the person baptized and in relation to the parents and to the other godparent.”

Think about the changes here: first, the word was one with a spiritual affinity, then—as the word broke down— it became ‘gossip’ and not in a spiritual way at all! Perhaps we can think about this the next time we are prone to share something that we shouldn’t! Read on about this true encounter from Churchill. It will get you thinking and add a laugh for your day!

Winston Churchill quite often exemplified integrity and respect in the face of opposition. During his last year in office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind him, two gentlemen of distinction began whispering, “That’s Winston Churchill. They say he is getting senile. They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men like us.” When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, “Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf! Obviously, that’s also wrong.”

“Caught” in gossip and in ear-shot of a Prime Minister—that’s either takes guts or a lot of stupidity. But that is how gossip works. It is one of the most destructive forces anyone can introduce into a relationship. You may think the other person won’t know, but like the two men in the story above, people find out. When this happens in families or friendships, it destroys the single element on which those priceless relationships are built on. Think of it this way—you just destroyed a foundation of love, honor, respect, and trust—is that worth it?!

Solomon’s writings of Proverbs speak often of gossip’s destruction. Chapter 16:23-27-28 [ERV] tells us: “A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.  Troublemakers create disasters. Their advice destroys like a wildfire. Troublemakers are always causing problems. Their gossip breaks up the closest of friends.”

We find across the globe and in every household with or without faith, gossip reigns. Why? Read this tidbit from comedian, Erma Bombeck. She did a side-spitting comical parody of gossip. People laughed and then it got quiet very quickly when she ended it with: “You men return from the facilities and seem embarrassed to discuss where they’ve been. They never hear any gossip. Never see any celebrities. Never find out if the fish on the menu is frozen or that the blond waitress is married to the drummer, who is jealous. To women, a rest room is an adventure in gossip. Ladies, I think we have a problem here.”

When we are tempted to gossip, here are two choices: Either keep the matter silent or go directly to the person and talk with them. Neither option is easy but both are the right thing to do! And, perhaps in your hesitation in making that choice, think of a time when someone gossiped about you and how that felt. You may even still be hurting and have a loss of a wonderful relationship. Would you want to do that to another person?

God is Healer for us all, and healing the destruction of gossip is something we have to take to God for only God alone knows everything about both sides, and has the power, strength, and grace to heal what we have broken or others who have broken us. I’m thinking it would be nice if we all went back a century or so and were a godsibb. What a change society would be indeed! AMEN.