When we consider the "Seven Deadly Sins," we wouldn't consider gossip as being one of them.  Gossip IS a sin, but we often think of it as a "minor" sin.  Listen to what King Solomon said about gossip:  ²³As surely as a north wind brings rain,  o a gossiping tongue causes anger! Proverbs 25:23 NLT  Gossip CAUSES anger.  ALL sin is deadly, and seemingly minor sins are stepping stones to larger ones.

In our efforts to live anger free lives, one of the best steps we can take is to eliminate gossip.  After all if gossip causes anger, then eliminating gossip automatically eliminates one source of anger in our lives.  How do we do that?  First, we eliminate gossip by NOT LISTENING when someone has something they have to tell us that we know falls into the category of gossip.  Then we eliminate it by not telling anything that is or seems like gossip.  Both our daughters had the same second grade teacher, and that teacher taught our children when it comes to what we say, we ought to ask three questions:  Is it true?  Is it kind? Is it necessary?  If it passes the test of those three questions then it's information worth passing on to others.  Otherwise, it would be best left unsaid.

Take some time to consider the comments you've made today to or about others.  Do they past the "three question test"?  If not, how will you be sure NOT to continue inappropriate patterns of conversation that will cause anger, because they are gossip?   This may seem a small matter, but as we follow Jesus, it's usually the small matters, that bring big changes in our lives.

Let's pray.  Heavenly Father, Thanks for the simple truth You share in Your word.  Fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may eliminate gossip from our lives and thus eliminate a source of anger at the same time.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.