#6
Lately I have been thinking about my #6… (from the post by Vee about me). I have been thinking about gossip… and my participation in it despite my hate of the common description. On Sunday my thoughts were particularly caught up on this subject, while checking my e-mail I clicked on the link to my friend April’s blog (because she is HALARIOUS and I wanted to see how she was doing) and she had posted about gossip- I have included some of her post… my comments will be in italics.
April’s blog:
It has already been more than a month since I made a blog entry! No wonder all my fans have been complaining. She really does have a following Okay, I’ll make a new one now. I’ll write about something that has been on my mind a lot lately:
GOSSIP
What do you think of gossip? Do you like to participate when people gossip? (I do.) I think we all do… Do you get really mad and sad when people gossip about you? (I do.) Do you enjoy reading celebrity gossip magazines? (Me too!) The dental office has quite the selection.
I have lately been considering my place in this crazy world of gossip. It seems to me almost impossible to not gossip. After all, we are surrounded by people and our lives revolve around the relationships we have with them. Isn’t it just natural to talk about those people? Of course. I also think it is essential to relationships… to be able to share our thoughts, accomplishments and struggles with each other… BUT … read on
But I’ve decided there has to be a difference between talking about everyday life/relationships and participating in malicious gossip. I AGREE!!! I have recently had my feelings hurt because someone was discussing my personal life with someone who doesn’t know me at all. I wondered to myself, “How can this person think it’s okay to find entertainment in something that I’ve spent time crying and praying over, something that matters so much to me?” But the fact is, I’ve done that too! Guilty as well… We all need to grow up and stop finding pleasure in other people’s problems.
I have resolved to grow up a little bit. I’m not going to listen anymore when someone is trying to entertain me with the details of another person’s problematic personal life. I’m not going to talk about other people’s problems unless they really have something to do with me and there is actually merit in the reason for talking about them. I have decided entertainment value is not meritable when other’s feelings are at stake. And I am now going to be much more careful about what I say of my own personal life and to whom I say it.
Back to my portion…
I have been reading a FANTASTIC book by Sheri Dew… which initiated my thoughts on this subject and I would like to share what I have found. Comments by me will be found again in italics…
“I fear that our charity sometimes faileth and my wanting to know the buzz even when it is malicious kills my charity . One wonders if the Prophet Joseph agreed… “Put a double watch over the tongue… The tongue is an unruly member- hold your tongues about things of no moment- a little tale will set the world on fire… this is the part I want to emphasize: Don’t do more hurt than good with your tongues-be pure in heart” (TPJS, 239)
Me again: I am SOOOOO grateful for the nunnery friendship and I believe that we do ALOT of good, I have heard the greatest kind of gossip from you all and I believe we can do more GOOD than hurt. I have resolved to be kinder in word and in mouthing words, to as April said “grow up a little bit” but she has also offered a scapegoat if we feel the need to gossip…
“But I’m not going to grow up all the way. I resolve to continue reading celebrity gossip magazines… Did you hear Angelina is pregnant with twins?!?!?!”
T.A.N.
As I pondered the assignment of how to introduce one of my dearest friends to the blogging world of the nunnery, I thought of the names I have known her by throughout the years of cherished friendship.
Now introducing… The nunnery member formerly known as Meesh/Pete/MMR and to be now known ironically as Tan.
When I think of Meesh, I think of card games (oh, the days of hand and foot…), chips and salsa, late nights on the trampoline and our first adventure driving down town in her mom’s van. I also fondly remember running through a field belting “We are Children of the Light” interrupted by our startled/terrified screams upon finding a dead cat. I think of kind words, tearful hugs and testimony around the camp fire.
When I think of Pete, I think of her smile, her easy laughter and unfailing heart. I think of humility, forgiveness and growing together. I think of her purity and patience. She always thinks the best of people and you know what… she is usually right. She is never critical and always charitable.
When I think of MMR, my first thought honestly is of Measles, Mumps and Rubella- the vaccine but, more importantly it reminds me of her
M- Maturity
M- Memorability and
R- Righteousness
MMR is the definition of a “BEST FRIEND”, and honestly… looking back I never needed a necklace to verify that- she shows it!!!
So, with so many names to choose from and the fact that her blog identity had not been set in stone- I wondered what to do. I wondered how I would introduce her as part of the nunnery- and it came to me… she is actually the anomalitic nun. She is in a healthy relationship with a boy who ADORES her and is about to enter unnunness. I laughed when I took a closer look at her definition… The Anomalitic Nun… it spells tan, which has always been a persuit of us white ones. So now my dear soon to be Mrs. Jonathan McBride, you are now officially tan, Congrats.
