The tongue is our most handy and powerful organ. We use it to savour different tastes and flavours, to swallow, and to form words. Some people get creative and use it for other purposes, but I won't get into that now. The tongue can be sensitive, sensual, practical, and destructive. At its harshest, it can tear down people, start rumours, destroy reputations, and spread nasty gossip. In its beneficial mode, it can lavish praise, deliver great presentations, give support, and mend fights.
Perhaps the most destructive use of the tongue is to spread gossip. Gossip exists everywhere, and the popularity of soap operas confirms its power and influence. Gossiping is bad because bits and pieces of information are passed on like a game of Chinese Whispers; each person involved adds their two cents, turning an innocent comment into a major scandal.
I'm guilty of this habit, and although I may think it's harmless and mostly driven by boredom, it might one day lead to something serious. It would be unrealistic of me to say I'll never gossip again, but I will try to think before I pass on any information that might hurt someone else. On that note, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. It irritates me when people criticise others, make unnecessary harsh comments, or mock someone just for the sake of it. It makes my blood boil when I witness this, and I wonder if these people speak just to make noise. There is no such thing as constructive criticism.
Everyone should be comfortable in their own skin, and the world would be a better place if we could all just be kind to each other. Group hug, everyone!
"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." - James 3:7-8