humility

Today I was totally floored by a friend of mine. After our bible study, we had decided to get ice cream to celebrate one of the girls birthdays. So we were all sitting there, enjoying our ice cream and talking about weddings. And Cheryl told us that a neighbour of hers (not John) is 17 and getting married sometime this month. And her fiance is younger than her! And we all just thought that was ridiculous but that was all that was said about it. But as we were walking out, Cheryl turned to us that had been talking about the wedding with her and apologized to us because she felt that she had been gossiping. She didn't say anything bad about these people, just told us their situation and she felt she had been gossiping. I was completely amazed by this and challenged as well. If she considers her comments gossiping, then what the gossiping that I do on a regular basis is just about as bad as killing someone, if you compare them. I continually talk about people, especially my own roommates to my other roommates about who doesn't do their chores and what not and it is horrible. I have noticed it myself but you don't think it is that bad becuse others are agreeing with you and just venting your frustrations. But really, it is gossiping at its finest. If you talk about someone and a passerby hears part of the conversation and doesn't see the subject in a good light, then it is gossip. No if's, and's or but's.
So I have challenged myself to become more humble. Because really, gossip is another form of flattery on yourself. You put someone else down to feel good about yourself or justify your behaviours compared to theirs. Humility needs to be a characteristic that everyone has. I can change this by talking about myself less and listening to other people. I can stop talking about others and only say positive things about people. Even when I am watching tv and I see someone that has a bad hair cut, I can not say anything at all. "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"
"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted"
~ Luke 18:14