Speculation, rumours and telling blatant lies can destroy any community.
I will demonstrate it with this story: One day in a small town where everyone knows their neighbours, all the adults were sitting around the town dam, hiding under the trees from the stinging summer sun. A young child came running into their midst, breaking the silence with what he has heard. He said he overheard their neighbour plotting to kill everyone because he was not invited to join them. The word ‘kill’ yanked all the adults out of their slumber. They decided to kill him before he executes his plans. They took their utensils, stones, and chairs and with anger in their hearts and murder in their eyes marched to the neighbour’s house.
This is only a story, but many times, we also react like this because we ‘heard’ something. My mom taught me to count to ten before I want to say something about someone else because these hearsay stories I tell others may have far-reaching consequences.
These stories may not be the truth or be a malicious plot of the tale-bearer to destroy someone else’s life. The danger is that the hearer may form perceptions of the person spoken about, based on someone else’s opinion. Another danger is that the hearer may misunderstand the tale-bearer and react before knowing the truth.
I wonder how many people have counted to ten before reacting, especially what I see in groups and chats on social media.
We forget that a word is like toothpaste – once out, it cannot be retracted.
One word (or phrase) can spark pain or hope or become the first domino piece in destroying a community through slander, destroying people’s characters, and spreading stories devoid of all truth.
Let your words drip with the sweetness of honey to bring healing to the wounded souls of our world and help to keep the healed ones healthy😀
Copyright Annalie Anticevich© February 2023
Also, read Words are infectious as viruses
#WordsDrippingWithHoney 