Gossip-Free Zone?

Life has been full of a illness, work, and lots of homemaking catchup.  I've neglected to post anything lately as I've just been too tired after Abby's bedtime and I haven't been out taking photos as it's so dreary outside.  I love the crisp sunny days of autumn, but this transition time can be a bit lackluster.

I've been thinking about the issue of gossip.  I really try not to gossip.  Some of my previous jobs required me to be in the know of the dirty secrets hardly anyone knew about.  I would have been easier not to have known this information.

Anyway, I was listening to a preacher on the radio on my commute to Abby's daycare preach on gossip and he used the NICE acronym.  Have you heard of this?

• N - Is it necessary?
• I  - Is it important?
• C - Is it compassionate?
• E - Is it encouraging?   

I suppose this would reduce the amount of gossip to nearly nil if we filtered all of our conversations through this acronym.  My greatest challenge is knowing how to respond to someone who is gossiping.  I tend to be too nice.  I've usually tried to gently change the subject and this has often worked.  Perhaps I should be a bit more blunt. 

"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" Psalm 141:3

Next time I'm tempted to gossip I will pray that I would have the strength to just keep what I know to myself and not divulge unnecessary sordid details about broken lives.

Spurgeon said:  "Be deaf, be blind, be dead to gossip, and it will grow disgusted with you and select a more sensitive victim."